Ensuring that only workers who are not  known to pose a terrorism security risk are allowed unescorted access to  secure areas is important in helping to prevent an attack. In October 2006, the SAFE Port Act was enacted and  required, among other things, the issuance of regulations to begin  implementing the TWIC program and issuing TWIC cards to workers at the  10 highest-risk ports by July 1, 2007, conduct a pilot program to test TWIC  access control technologies in the maritime environment, issue regulations  requiring TWIC card readers based on the findings of the pilot, and  periodically report to Congress on the status of the program. TSA Has Made Progress Since September 2006 in Implementing the TWIC Program and Addressing GAO Recommendations

Since we reported on the TWIC program in September 2006, TSA has made  progress in implementing the program. Although we have not yet  independently assessed the effectiveness of these efforts, TSA has taken  actions to address legislative requirements to implement and test the  program and our recommendations regarding conducting additional  systems testing to ensure that TWIC technologies work effectively,  strengthening contractor oversight, and improving communication and  coordination efforts with maritime stakeholders. In January 2007, TSA and  the Coast Guard issued a TWIC rule that sets forth the requirements for  enrolling workers and issuing TWIC cards to workers in the maritime  sector, and awarded a $70 million contract for enrolling workers in the  TWIC program. However, TSA recently announced that this  testing is complete, and began enrolling and issuing TWIC cards to  workers at the port of Wilmington, Delaware on October 16, 2007. TSA  also plans to begin enrolling workers at 11 additional ports by November  2007. TSA and Industry Stakeholders Will Need to Address Challenges to Ensure the TWIC Program Is Implemented Successfully

As we reported in September 2006 and April 2007, TSA and maritime  industry stakeholders will need to address several challenges to help  ensure that the TWIC program will be implemented successfully. As we  reported in September 2006, TSA and its enrollment contractor must  transition from testing of the TWIC program to successful implementation  of the program on a much larger scale covering 770,000 workers at about  3,200 maritime facilities and 5,300 vessels. In addition, maritime stakeholders with whom we spoke in  September and October 2007 identified the need for TSA and its  enrollment contractor to educate workers on the new TWIC requirements,  ensure that the contractor conducts enrollments in a timely manner, and  process numerous background checks, appeals, and waiver applications. Furthermore, TSA and industry stakeholders will need to ensure that  TWIC access control technologies work effectively in the maritime  environment, will be compatible with TWIC cards that will be issued soon,  and balance security requirements while facilitating maritime commerce.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is developing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to help ensure that only workers who are not known to pose a terrorist threat are allowed to enter secure areas of the nation's transportation facilities. This testimony is based primarily on GAO's September 2006 report on the TWIC program, and interviews with TSA and maritime industry officials conducted in September and October 2007 to obtain updates on the TWIC program. Specifically, this testimony addresses (1) the progress TSA has made since September 2006 in implementing the TWIC program and addressing GAO recommendations; and (2) some of the remaining challenges that TSA and the maritime industry must overcome to ensure the successful implementation of the program.

What GAO Found

Since GAO reported on TWIC in September 2006, TSA has made progress in implementing the program. Although GAO has not yet independently assessed the effectiveness of these efforts, TSA has taken actions to address legislative requirements to implement and test the program as well as address GAO's recommendations related to conducting additional systems testing, strengthening contractor oversight, and improving coordination with stakeholders. Specifically, TSA has issued a rule in January 2007 that sets forth the requirements for enrolling maritime workers in the TWIC program and issuing cards to these workers, and awarded a $70 million dollar contract to begin enrolling workers; reported conducting performance testing of the technologies that will be used to enroll workers in the TWIC program to ensure that they work effectively before implementation; begun planning a pilot program to test TWIC access control technologies at 5 maritime locations in accordance with the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act; begun enrolling workers and issuing TWIC cards at the port of Wilmington, Delaware on October 16, 2007, and plans to do so at 11 additional ports by November 2007; added additional staff with program and contract management expertise to help oversee the TWIC enrollment contract; and stated that they have taken actions to improve communication and coordination with maritime stakeholders. As TSA moves forward with TWIC, it and maritime industry stakeholders will be faced with addressing the following key challenges that can affect the programs' successful implementation. TSA and its contractor will need to transition from testing of the TWIC program to successful implementation of the program on a larger scale covering 770,000 workers at about 3,200 maritime facilities and 5,300 vessels. TSA and its contractor will need to educate workers on new TWIC requirements, ensure that enrollments begin in a timely manner, and efficiently process background checks, appeals, and waivers. TSA and industry stakeholders will need to ensure that TWIC access control technologies work effectively in the maritime environment, and balance new security requirements while facilitating maritime commerce.