U.S. Passport Securtity?

[tcar]

Just read that:

Feds put our new passport manufacturing out to the lowest bidder.

The security items; chip and antenna are made and installed in The Netherlands and Thailand.

Not a particularly secure nor intelligent decision, in my opinion, but I don't know if this puts (especially the chip) the security in jeopardy.

The Government Printing Office (Government Outsourcing Office?) was begged to keep the manufacturing process in the U.S., but they went the money saving route.