Delays over setting up a registration system for online services threaten to hold up the US federal administration's e-government programme, a senior member of Congress has warned. Tom David, chair of the House of Representatives reform committee, is concerned about serious delays to the US Government's e-authentication initiative. The project was due to start in September 2003, but the launch has already been delayed until March 2004.
"There is real doubt whether this project can be completed, even by the revised date," David wrote this week in a letter to the US General Services Administration department.
"The e-authentication gateway is critical to the federal government's efforts to encourage its stakeholders to use electronic processes to conduct their transactions with the Government and help make e-government a reality."
David is calling for a full review of the initiative, which is supposed to enable members of the public to sign up for any of the US Government's services that are available online.
Despite the setback over e-authentication, officials are continuing to drive the e-government programme forward.
On 16 October 2003 Karen Evans, the US Government's new IT chief, set out her future plans. Top of her agenda includes communication about e-government to Congress, public organisations and citizens; focussing efforts on citizens' needs; and continuing cooperation with industry.
Quelle: Kablenet
