The Bush Administration will now delay for at least six months the implementation of a new rule that U.S. citizens must present a passport when crossing the U.S. border by land or sea, officials announced today.

Starting in January, land and sea travelers returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be allowed to present a birth certificate and driver’s license in lieu of a passport.

The modification is expected to last at least until the summer of 2008, when officials hope to require passports or similar documentation at all land and sea crossings. Are we taking bets on the summer 2008 date?

The reason? We all know the reason. The government is still back-logged trying to meet current demand for passports — as a result of the change requiring people to produce a passport when flying back from the aformentioned countries.

Most amusing comments from the a Senate hearing Tuesday on the current passport mess? Maura Harty, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, took the blame for the passport mess, saying that part of the problem was that in 2005 Hurricane Katrina reduced the capabilities of the agency’s New Orleans passport office. Right. The office in New Orleans has been up and running for more than a year.

But the best excuse was this one: She also said the agency had not expected so many Americans to actually obey the new law.

I have no comeback for that one.