Passport Production: Outsourced?!?!

As Capitol Hill continues to debate the Real ID Act, a real ID faces very serious security concerns. The Washington Times reports on the doubly whammy facing passport production.

The Times uncovered a US government contracted firm in Thailand that was raking in unjustified profits (in excess of $100 million), while also seriously jeopardizing US security and individual privacy. That's right, passport production is outsourced... to Thailand. The Government Printing Office, GPO, looks to a contractor in Thailand to produce an electronic microchip required, by Congress, in all US passports. The contractor admits some of its secrets were breached by the Chinese government.

In a press conference with reporters, State Department Spokesperson Sean McCormack noted that US law mandates that GPO be the sole source provider for passports and deferred most questions to GPO officials. However, McCormack did note that only two companies in the world have the capability to produce the e-chip required for passports, one is in Germany, and the other, in Thailand.

McCormack added, "The State Department does not have in-house secure facilities or machines to print passports." (But offshore companies in Thailand do?)

It seems peculiar to me. As Republicans in congress attempt to push through legislation to create a national ID citing 'security reasons,' US passport production is outsourced to Thailand?!?! A US passport is a far more valuable form of identification for an outsider seeking to harm the US than a state drivers license.

Lastly, McCormick noted that the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security audits the companies overseas for security, however, he wasn't able to say how they determine if something is secure citing security reasons. Ladies and gentlemen, the irony is maddening.