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Return to Article: GPO: Article 'misstated' facts of offshoring e-passport production

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  I presume the use of RFID vs Infra red, is because RFID is the world standard. Citizens are charged more than the card costs due to the expense of verifying the information the citizen provides to be encoded in the chip and the actual data entry, all done here in the U.S. However, I assume that the chip will include authentication software, to prevent terrorists from entry. To maintain security, both chip and reader software need to be verified down to the individual bit level. Where, if anywhere, is this done?

  Don Seib Posted October 24, 2008 12:39 PM
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  Jess Ford, GAO director of international affairs and trade: "Besides, I'm not sure if someone even got hold of the chip, how they would use them."

  Does the O in GAO stand for Ostrich????

  M Onger Posted April 2, 2008 8:47 AM
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  The CIA's former Executive Director, Dusty Foggo is scheduled to be tried the day before Election Day, likely so as not to sway this November's election. Others leaving comments here addressed the subject of RFID in the passports and the ability of non-democracies such as Russia and China obtaining what they need such as source code to counterfeit passports. Actually, N. Korea would be a similar concern.

  Anyhow, a subject of Foggo's strawmen, shell companies private secuirity installed coaxed to work with him was Immtec, Inc.--inventor of what NIST calls "smart wallet" in its Biometrics and Security and Applications list. RFID can never be made secure. Immtec always has offered an infrared alternative, and infrared (IR) can be made secure. Immtec has a grim history with Russia, where the Kremlin has done all it could now for 6 1/3 years to take control of our assets (RnD and intellectual property).

  There have been many plea deals of elected, appointed and hired US government officials linked to the sabotage of Immtec. Foggo is the first to go to trial. GPO has left itself with just months to change course or face imminent disgrace!

  Dawn Dippell Posted April 2, 2008 8:44 AM
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  My 2 cents.... It's our U.S passport. Any and all production of the U.S. passports should be in the old U.S.A. Regardless of COST, nothing should be outsourced!

  Tony Azpeitia Posted April 1, 2008 4:56 PM
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  Everyone is missing the point.

  GPO by law doesn't earn a profit. The GC of GPO, who was the former IG and who earned his job from the Public printer, and who is now in Vegas as a Judge (heaven help the Nevadans) can't wish away this law. So GPO just made a profit of $100 million of US taxpayer money by scamming the State Department. The question that everyone should be asking is where is the money? Is the money hopefully in a GPO account? Is the money being stored in small denomination bills in that big empty building on North Capital Street? Or perhaps the money is being safely stored in the personal accounts of all the senior GPO executives- for safe keeping of course should those pesky State Department beauracrates want a refund.

  And from a security standpoint- federal employees that scam the State Department out of $100 million- Are they trustworthy or will they sell technology to the highest bidder-including the Chinese? They do think of themselves as a private, money-making corporation. The Russians and Chinese have plenty of money.

  And after all those articles last week-- we now have total silence. I guess a resignation from the HUD secretary bumps the GPO scam off the front pages. I hope Congress isn't still asleep regarding their off the track agency called GPO. Simple question-- WHERE IS THE MONEY?

  HR Specialist Posted April 1, 2008 3:34 PM
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  RFI chip?

  Any of the federal agencies like NSA test the RFI chip to see how much of our personal data gets transmitted? Can the information be picked up by someone with a laptop, antenna, receiver sitting around the airport terminal in a foreign country or in our own country?

  Is the information sent over RFI encrypted? Is the encryption closely held by foreign governments, what about known countries with ties to shady organizations?

  I think this stuff needs to be looked at in more detail. RFI can be a real weakness for personal identity thieves.

  brutallyfrank Posted March 30, 2008 10:31 PM
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  You mean to tell me that the MSM would misrepresent the facts in a story. Aw, pshaw! Get outta here! The MSM is completely trustworthy, isn't it?

  charles Posted March 30, 2008 10:51 AM
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  I just reread all three articles about the GPO. It looks like Mr. Shedd, the Chief Financial Controller, losely speaking, was allowed to give himself over $12,000 last year as a bonus and that all the Executives of GPO split between $8- $15,000 in bonus money.

  What most people don't know is that GPO did not have a monetary awards program for years and years- even up to last year when the Executives were dividing their ill gotten gains. GPO did away with monetary awards years ago for their bargaining unit and non-Executive employees.

  Interestingly enough, the former Public Printers secretary got an award of $2,000. I challenge GPO to name another secretary or support staff person at GPO that got even $1.00.

  There is a 2 tier structure at GPO not only for awards but for discipline as well. There are definitely Masters and Slaves on this plantation called GPO. No true Congressional oversight of GPO in this administration allowed this to happen.

  By all means- trust US Passport production to these malfeasants who just cheated the State Department and the US taxpayers out of $100 million.

  HR Specialist Posted March 28, 2008 2:49 PM
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  To Karen and Thomas Q, be glad that work is outsourced, otherwise you will NOT be able to survive on your income.

  fedworker Posted March 28, 2008 10:29 AM
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  Did anyone read the entire article? The passports will not be made overseas; computer and electronic components of them will be. Why not use components made here? Simply put, nobody makes them here. You may not like it but that is fact.

  Bill Posted March 28, 2008 9:52 AM
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  As an instructor of federal appropriations law, I'm less than surprised when a federal agency operating a revolving fund (GPO) overcharges a customer (State Department) for a product. Many instances have previously been reported by revolving funds operated by GSA and Interior. Revolving funds are supposed to break even, with the exception of franchise funds, which can retain up to 4% of revenue. However, perhaps part of the problem is that identified by GAO last year...cost accounting in many federal agencies isn't very good.

  John Herko Posted March 28, 2008 9:28 AM
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  These articles in the Washington Times don't even begin to talk about the malfeasance of GPO management in how they have silenced their employees and where all the profit from this passport line is going.

  Give me a break about the IG at GPO. It is the only IG I know in federal service that is an at will employee reporting directly to the head of the agency. The IG is selected and can be removed anytime by the Public Printer. Nothing the IG does or says at GPO should be taken as anymore that the Public Printer and upper management protecting themselves from real oversight.

  The GPO oversight is done by a Joint Committee of Congress and they have been far removed for years from any actual oversight. GPO has been run by Congressman Ney holdovers and their upper management lackeys for years and they rule by fear and intimidation. The Unions were co-opted and silenced years ago. The EEO Officer owes her position to the HR Director, and is also not an independent voice at GPO. Congress doesn't have a clue about the past seven years of misconduct by GPO management.

  Ask any GPO employee what they call the agency-- "The Plantation." The nickname fits. Congress should be ashamed of itself for letting one of its agencies become a den of iniquity.

  HR Specialist Posted March 28, 2008 7:11 AM
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  This decision to outsource ANYTHING is appalling and a tremendous insult to every american! Our economy is in a very low point, with minimal paying jobs (few at that) layoffs and companys sending our positions to other countries. We just don't understand why the need to outsource manufacturing of passports to anyone when we have very qualified and willing americans to do our jobs! We are seniors, no longer in the job market however, it hurts us as well when prices go so high we can't live on a limited income....everything traces back to our government making some seriously wrong decisions regarding our economy. PLEASE BRING BACK AT LEAST THIS MANUFACTURING JOB TO AMERICA! The idea of security breaches...why can't our Representatives (ones working for the people)who made this decision see the problems when so many are obvious. Cost factors after it's shipped to two different countries and then ship to America, couldn't possibly be less than manufacturing here where it should be! SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT SHOULD BE MANUFACTURED HERE.... PERIOD!!!

  Karen & Thomas Quinnin Posted March 28, 2008 3:16 AM
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  "putting cost savings ahead of national security"...gee that sounds familiar. Again, outsourcing critical government missions is a proven recipe for failure. I'm no fan of the Moonie-owned Washington Times, but why can this agency not state categorically that this passport work will only be handled on our shores?

  The problem is that this has been outsourced to "for-profit" companies. Once profit becomes the main concern, security and everything else becomes secondary..so if its cheaper to farm this function out to a third party in Indonesia...guess what? The bottom line wins. America loses.

  Don Posted March 27, 2008 11:15 PM