DHS Opposes DHS

You know you may have a policy problem when one of your own departmental committees questions a departmental program.

That's what has happened at the Homeland Security Department, which just closed this week taking public comments on the department's proposed rules for implementing the Real ID Act of 2005. Among the comments is DHS' own Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee, which "called the Real ID Act 'one of the largest identity management undertakings in history' and said it raises serious privacy, security and logistical concerns," according to a ComputerWorld article. "'These include, but are not limited to, the implementation costs, the privacy consequences, the security of stored identity documents and personal information,' the committee noted. It also cited other concerns such as mission creep, redress and fairness issues."

Opposition to the Real ID law has been strong, with states claiming it will cost billions to implement and many states have either passed laws or are considering bills asking the federal government to repeal Real ID or fully fund it. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., supports a repeal of the Real ID Act.

We first reported about this dichotomy this week in an article about the heavy criticism that the Real ID law has received.