Analyst: Obama may spend a billion on biometrics
The Obama administration is likely to spend $750 million to $1 billion
on biometric applications this year, primarily in defense, intelligence
and homeland security, according to a new report from Jeremy Grant, an
analyst for the Stanford Group Co. research firm.
Key programs
at the Defense Department could result in $500 million to $600 million
in biometrics contracts, and intelligence programs could add another
$250 million to $350 million, Grant said.
Other major programs
contributing to the growth include the Homeland Security Department’s
U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology and Real ID Act
of 2005, the FBI’s Next Generation Identification and Homeland Security
Presidential Directive-12, he said.
“U.S. identity solutions
projects should survive intact through the presidential transition and
the industry should continue to do well in the Obama administration,”
Grant wrote.
“Still, the distractions of the transition -–
magnified by the economic crisis -– will slow some projects and delay
the creation of new ones. We forecast flat government spending for 2009
outside of several key programs, as a new administration takes a year
to review and reshape existing initiatives.”
About the Author
Alice Lipowicz is a staff writer covering government 2.0, homeland security and other IT policies for Federal Computer Week. Follow her on Twitter: @AliceLipowicz.