During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to "redouble our efforts to develop technology that can detect radiation and determine the danger it poses, [working] with the maritime transportation industry to integrate this technology into their operations so as to maximize security without causing economic disruption."

Improving detection of radiation at sea and land ports has been an ongoing challenge for federal officials. The United States has devoted more than $3 billion to this goal since 2002, and 98 percent of cargo arriving by sea -- and every vehicle entering the United States -- is now scanned for radiation, according to Global Security Newswire.
 
But the current technology has difficulty detecting radiation if it is well-shielded. In addition, nonthreatening items can produce false positive readings, forcing officials to waste time on fruitless secondary checks.
 
Officials with the Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office are testing a new technology, known as the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitor system, that they hope will improve the detection of actual threats while decreasing the number of false positives. Outfitting ports with 1,400 of the new-generation machines would cost an estimated $1.2 billion.
 
In a fiscal year 2008 spending bill, Congress required that DHS affirm that the technology represents a significant improvement before moving ahead with full deployment. But scientists have expressed concerns that the new system may not offer significantly better results for the money.
 
In June 2009, the National Research Council said that the gains in accuracy may not justify the cost; the professional panel recommended that Homeland Security not proceed unless key concerns are addressed. Separately, the Government Accountability Office concluded that the testing has uncovered "multiple problems."
 
Homeland Security has also fallen behind its self-imposed schedule for meeting the requirements set by Congress.
 
With independent analysts concluding that the effort to develop improved radiation-detection technologies is experiencing troubles, we considered rating this promise Stalled. But as long as testing is continuing, we'll give the program the benefit of the doubt and rate it In the Works.