VA adds CLEAR facial-recognition sign-in and tests in-person account setup at medical sites
The Department of Veterans Affairs introduced a new CLEAR login choice that lets veterans use facial recognition to reach VA.gov accounts. It also launched a pilot at six medical facilities to assist veterans in creating online VA accounts face to face. The effort is part of a broader digital modernization initiative involving GovCIO and the CLEAR1 identity platform.
The VA said its new sign-in choice is voluntary and uses facial recognition through CLEAR. Veterans may also keep using other biometric verification options, including Login.gov and ID.me. The CLEAR account for VA.gov is separate from the CLEAR service used for airport security lanes.
The agency also placed CLEAR kiosks at six medical sites: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Orlando, Palo Alto, San Juan, and Washington, D.C. There, veterans with accepted identification can have a photo taken to set up an account. Officials described the work as part of a GovCIO-led effort to modernize VA online services and integrate CLEAR1.
Veterans seeking VA benefits and care may find access simpler if they opt into facial recognition, while those without reliable devices, broadband, or comfort with biometrics could face added friction or choose existing methods. The in-person kiosks may help some veterans enroll, but privacy and equity questions around facial data could shape trust. The pilot’s expansion may influence how other federal agencies adopt similar identity tools.