The White House has initiated a sweeping review of all federal biometric programs, in a move that could reshape the use of biometric technologies across government agencies. The effort is being led by the White House Homeland Security Council, with Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller serving as a key coordinator. The review involves collaboration with multiple agencies and departments, including the Department of Homeland Security and the recently established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Scrutinizing Biometric Infrastructure
The White House review comes amid growing concerns about the operational and strategic direction of major federal biometric systems. One major focus is the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM), which oversees one of the largest biometric databases in the world. OBIM has recently come under DOGE’s jurisdiction, and the transition has been marked by logistical disruptions, including reports of staff working from shared spaces and temporary offices.
A central issue under examination is the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART) program, a cloud-based biometrics system intended to replace the aging Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). According to FedScoop, the HART initiative has fallen behind schedule and gone over budget, raising concerns that prompted the White House to launch this comprehensive review. These operational issues, combined with questions about cost-efficiency, have brought renewed scrutiny to the modernization efforts within OBIM.
Another system on the Council’s radar is the Traveler Verification Service (TVS), used by Customs and Border Protection to match travelers’ faces at entry and exit points. The inclusion of TVS in the review underscores the expanding scope of facial recognition technologies within federal operations and the growing need for oversight.
Security, Oversight, and Accountability
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed that the administration is directing agencies to assess all biometric programs, stating, “The Safety and Security of the American People is the President’s highest priority. Biometric screening and vetting programs are a vital part of the Administration’s efforts to protect U.S. Citizens.”
The review is also taking place as the federal government undergoes leadership changes in key cybersecurity roles. Karen Evans was recently appointed as Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at CISA, bringing added experience to federal digital infrastructure security. At the same time, CISA has launched initiatives to gather feedback on public-private cybersecurity partnerships, signaling a broader push for transparency and modernization across digital systems.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has already begun auditing DOGE’s digital oversight, and lawmakers are preparing hearings to evaluate the agency’s expanding role. Public interest groups are also expected to weigh in on the privacy implications of increased biometric use, especially in surveillance contexts.
The review’s outcomes could shape the future of biometric policy in the United States. With high-level leadership engaged and scrutiny intensifying around cost, privacy, and oversight, the federal government’s biometric infrastructure appears to be entering a new phase of reform and re-evaluation.
Sources: News, FedScoop, Ground
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May 21, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy
