It's the Drawing Board for Real ID

The following post was written by Jill R. Aitoro.

At a event on Friday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano had no kind words to say about Real ID, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress in 2005 to require states to issue new high-tech driver's licenses that incorporate a range of security features. Speaking to reporters following a press event this afternoon, Napolitano described the legislation as "enormously expensive," "containing a lot of uncertainly," and lacking adequate "constitutional governance."

DHS will be going "back to the drawing board," to figure out whether an enhanced driver's license is feasible, Napolitano said, but in the meantime the existing law will intentionally remain on the back burner.

This month, Nextgov's sister publication, CongressDaily, reported that Napolitano's office is participating in a working group established by the National Governors Association to review the Real ID law and determine whether statutory changes need to be made. Cost, as well as technical and privacy issues associated with Real ID led to a firestorm of objections from states, with upwards of two dozen resisting the law. Last summer, while still serving as Arizona governor, Napolitano signed a law prohibiting Real ID from being implemented in the state.