If Ms. Napolitano has her way, the Uigars will be able to get Virginia drivers licenses – like thirteen of the twenty-one September 11th terrorists – as she says she intends to “repeal the Real ID Act.” That statute, which requires (among other things) that the 50 states meet a high standard for issuing drivers licenses, was belatedly adopted on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. The Commissioners emphasized that fraudulently obtained identity documents are “weapons” in the hands of our enemies.

The Secretary’s helpmate in repealing the Real ID Act is Hawaii Democratic Senator Daniel Akaka. He is expected shortly to introduce a substitute dubbed the “Pass ID” Act. That title is certainly appropriate insofar as the draft bill would seemingly allow virtually anyone – including Gitmo detainees, illegal aliens, employees of international organizations and a class called “other non-immigrant aliens who are authorized to remain in the United States for an indefinite period” – to be eligible for temporary driver’s licenses or other IDs.

Outright repeal of the Real ID Act, however, would also eliminate several other provisions of law that closed loopholes exploited in the past by various terrorists like the Blind Sheik, who was responsible for the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, and by several of the 9/11 attackers. These include important restrictions on who can be granted asylum. Consequently, Congress seems unlikely to go along with a wholesale gutting of the Act.

Still, Secretary Napolitano seems to want political cover for eviscerating the statute’s eminently sensible and much-needed requirements with respect to driver’s licenses. Even though more than 30 states are moving to satisfy those requirements and even though she has the authority to give the remaining states additional time to do so, the former Governor of Arizona apparently is okay with once again giving terrorists a “pass” to gain access to our airplanes, government facilities, banks, etc.

Like much of the rest of the Obama administration’s agenda with respect to our security, that related to safeguarding our homeland appears increasingly to be a wrecking operation. Janet Napolitano’s Homeland Security Department requires urgent adult supervision. Let us pray that it receives such oversight and course corrections from the Congress – notably its rejection of any repeal of the Real ID Act – before someone exploits the vulnerabilities she is needlessly recreating.