EHINGER, FEISTY PROMOTER OF ITDS, RESIGNS
Robert W. Ehinger, director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s
International Trade Data System program, announced that he will be leaving government
service by Dec. 31.
His resignation comes after Treasury’s recent announcement to integrate ITDS
with Customs’ efforts to build its future umbrella system, the Automated Commercial
Environment. Ehinger opposed the move.
ITDS, a proposed system that promised to provide the shipping public a single
interface to more 100 government agencies, has been in development for two years. But
political wrangling and industry resistance has delayed its implementation.
The ITDS office in downtown Washington was recently dismantled and staffers
were transferred to Customs’ Office of Information and Technology in Newington, Va.