Recent security breaches, including a well-publicized incident involving ID fraud at the O’Hare Airport, have caused Congress, airports, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to push for biometric identification for airport employees nationwide. While airports have issued employee ID badges for years, the focus is now shifting towards biometrics, and the inclusion of fingerprints and iris recognition in all airport worker credentials.

In January, Congress authorized for 90-day tests of airport screening, including the use of biometric IDs, to begin in May. Biometric ID cards will be tested at Denver International and Boston Logon International airports, and the TSA will report on the tests next fall.
While Congress and the TSA move forward on this issue, an airport consortium has begun to develop its own biometric solution. The coalition is hoping for an ID card solution that allows for local control. The airports are also working with TSA on an interoperability project that would allow the identification cards to be used at more than just one airport.
It’s still undetermined when the biometric credentials would be officially rolled out, and how the project would be funded.