The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has proposed delaying the full implementation of the REAL ID program until 2027, while maintaining the May 7, 2025 deadline for individual compliance. The proposed delay aims to provide federal agencies with additional flexibility in enforcement procedures, as states continue to expand their digital identity capabilities through programs like mobile driver’s licenses with TSA PreCheck support.
Under current requirements, travelers will need to present REAL ID-compliant identification or other acceptable forms of ID at airport security checkpoints starting May 7, 2025. The REAL ID Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005, established new federal security standards for identification documents in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, during which 18 of the 19 attackers had used fraudulent identification. The legislation has driven significant modernization efforts in identity verification, including the development of enhanced security features and biometric authentication systems at state DMVs.
Implementation data shows that approximately 162 million REAL ID-compliant cards have been issued nationwide as of January 2024, representing roughly 56 percent of individuals who carry state-issued identification cards. In California, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles reports that 17 million residents have obtained REAL ID-compliant documentation since the program’s inception. The transition has coincided with a broader shift toward digital identification, as several states have begun launching digital driver’s license programs that complement physical REAL ID documents.
The proposed implementation delay would affect federal agency enforcement protocols while maintaining the established timeline for individual compliance. Travelers who do not possess REAL ID-compliant identification or acceptable alternatives by the 2025 deadline may experience delays at security checkpoints. The TSA continues to explore additional identity verification options, including the expansion of mobile ID pilot programs at select airports, which could provide travelers with more convenient identification options in the future.
Sources: LAist, The Points Guy
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