Is TWIC Almost Dead?

See the article $420 million TSA program doesn't work which sums up many of the issues with the Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) and also announces that the Department of Defense (DOD) is not going to continue accepting the credential for its purposes (which are not detailed in the article).

 

On Monday I found out that the final ruling for TWIC that is supposed to be issued by the U.S. Coast Guard is now not not due out until October of this year/2013.  That means the comment period would extend well into 2014 and adoption of the final rule would be in late 2014 or 2015.  Another long delay!

 

TWIC has been in trouble from the start with few supporters.  Many organizations from unions to industry have not been enthusiastic about the program.  This ruling from DOD could be the nail in the coffin for TWIC.  However, the only thing harder than starting a Federal program is stopping one.  

 

With money tight this is the type of program that elected officials may want to kill outright.  It after all has many detractors and only a few supporters.