Experts Say Culture Hinders Single Smart Card

The technology exists to create a governmentwide smart card program, but cultural issues and a lack of top-level management support stand in the way of implementation, experts testified today. A single government smart card is possible, but managerial and policy differences create difficulties, said Joel Willemssen, managing director of information technology issues at the General Accounting Office.

"It would probably be very difficult to standardize it from a management and policy perspective," Willemssen testified today at a hearing of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology, information policy, intergovernmental relations and the census. Agencies have different security clearances and access controls. GAO identified 62 smart card initiatives in varying stages at 18 agencies, Willemssen said. One of the next steps, he said, is establishing a governmentwide employee credentialing policy to streamline employee clearances.

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