Which directive mandates uniform standards for issuing government identity credentials?

The directive that mandates uniform standards for issuing government identity credentials is HSPD-12. This directive, which stands for Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, was issued in 2004 and aims to enhance the security of federal facilities and the protection of federal employees and visitors through a standardized identification process.

HSPD-12 establishes the requirement for the development and implementation of a common identification standard for federal employees and contractors, focusing on the credentialing process. This standardization is crucial for ensuring that all government-issued identity credentials are issued in a reliable and consistent manner, improving both security and efficiency across federal entities.

In contrast, FIPS 201 is the Federal Information Processing Standards document that provides guidance on the implementation of identity credentials established in HSPD-12. FISMA stands for the Federal Information Security Management Act, and it focuses on securing federal systems and data, not specifically on identity credentials. NIST SP 800-53 provides security and privacy controls for federal information systems but is more about broad security measures rather than specifically addressing the identity credentialing process.