National Science and Technology Council

Biometrics in Government Post - 9/11 National Science and Technology Council

This book, prepared by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Biometrics and Identity Management, documents key US Government initiatives to advance the science of biometrics and assesses their value in meeting critical operational needs. While federal efforts in biometric technologies predate the terrorist attacks of September 2001 by several decades, this report focuses on progress made since then. Working through the NSTC, and in cooperation with the academic and industrial research communities, agencies embarked on a multi-year initiative to advance the capabilities of biometric technologies. As capabilities advanced, agencies quickly incorporated them into their operational systems and then worked to develop government-wide policies on how to use biometrics to support missions against known and suspected terrorists, while simultaneously enhancing privacy protection for US Citizens and foreign visitors. By developing a common planning focus for departments and agencies we have advanced the technology and its operational implementation at a far greater pace than would have been possible otherwise. Today, federal agencies are using biometrics to enhance security and operational efficiency throughout the nation, at the borders and in the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. Their continued efforts to meet the ongoing needs outlined in The National Biometrics Challenge will ensure even greater successes in the future.