1). TSA Has Made Progress since September 2006 in Implementing the TWIC Program

Since we issued our report on the TWIC program in September 2006, TSA  has made progress toward implementing the TWIC program and  addressing several of the problems that we previously identified regarding  contract oversight and planning and coordination with 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. TSA is also taking steps designed to  address requirements in the SAFE Port Act regarding the TWIC program,  such as establishing a rollout schedule for enrolling workers and issuing  TWIC cards at ports and conducting a pilot program to test TWIC access  control technologies. Since September 2006, TSA  reported that it has added staff with program and contract management  expertise to help oversee the TWIC enrollment contract and taken  additional steps to help ensure that contract requirements are met. In  addition, TSA has also focused on improving communication and  coordination with maritime stakeholders, such as developing plans for  conducting public outreach and education efforts. TSA and Industry Stakeholders Need to Address Challenges to Ensure the TWIC Program Is Implemented Successfully

TSA and maritime industry stakeholders need to address several  challenges to ensure that the TWIC program can be implemented  successfully. As we reported in September 2006, TSA and its enrollment  contractor face the challenge of transitioning from limited testing of the  TWIC program to successful implementation of the program on a much  larger scale covering 770,000 workers at about 3,500 maritime facilities  and 5,300 vessels. Maritime stakeholders we spoke to identified additional  challenges to implementing the TWIC program that warrant attention by  TSA and its enrollment contractor, including educating workers on the  new TWIC requirements, ensuring that enrollments begin in a timely  manner, and processing numerous background checks, appeals, and  waiver applications. Furthermore, TSA and industry stakeholders also face  difficult challenges in ensuring that TWIC access control technologies will  work effectively in the maritime environment, be compatible with TWIC  cards that will be issued soon, and balance security with the flow of  maritime commerce. Conclusion

Preventing unauthorized persons from entering secure areas of the  nation’s ports and other transportation facilities is critical to preventing a  terrorist attack. While TSA plans to begin enrolling workers and  issuing TWIC cards in the next few months, it is important that the agency  establish clear and reasonable timeframes for implementing TWIC. Finally, it will be critical that TSA ensure that the TWIC access control  technology pilot program fully test all aspects of the TWIC program on a  full scale in the maritime environment and the results be used to ensure a  successful implementation of these technologies in the future.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is developing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to ensure that only workers that do not pose a terrorist threat are allowed to enter secure areas of the nation's transportation facilities. This testimony is based primarily on GAO's December 2004 and September 2006 reports on the TWIC program and interviews with TSA and port officials conducted in March and April 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 (2) some of the remaining challenges that TSA and the maritime industry must overcome to ensure the successful implementation of the TWIC program.

What GAO Found

Since we issued our report on the TWIC program in September 2006, TSA has made progress toward implementing the TWIC program and addressing several of the problems that we previously identified regarding contract oversight and planning and coordination with stakeholders. Specifically, TSA has issued a TWIC rule that sets forth the requirements for enrolling workers and issuing TWIC cards to workers in the maritime sector; awarded a $70 million dollar contract for enrolling workers in the TWIC program; developed a schedule for enrolling workers and issuing TWIC cards at ports and conducting a pilot program to test TWIC access control technologies; added additional staff with program and contract management expertise to help oversee the TWIC enrollment contract; and developed plans to improve communication and coordination with maritime stakeholders, including plans for conducting public outreach and education efforts. TSA and maritime industry stakeholders still face several challenges to ensuring that the TWIC program can be implemented successfully: (1) TSA and its enrollment contractor need to transition from limited testing of the TWIC program to successful implementation of the program on a much larger scale covering 770,000 workers at about 3,500 maritime facilities and 5,300 vessels. (2) TSA and its enrollment contractor will need to educate workers on the new TWIC requirements, ensure that enrollments begin in a timely manner, and process numerous background checks, appeals, and waivers. (3) TSA and industry stakeholders will need to ensure that TWIC access control technologies will work effectively in the maritime environment, be compatible with TWIC cards that will be issued, and balance security with the flow of maritime commerce. As TSA works to implement the TWIC program and begin enrolling workers, it will be important that the agency establish clear and reasonable time frames and ensure that all aspects of the TWIC program, including the TWIC access control technologies, are fully tested in the maritime environment.