REAL ID Deadline Pushed Back Again
For the third time, the Department of Homeland Security has pushed back the Real ID deadline for travelers. Domestic air travelers will be required to have a Real ID driver’s license or other federally approved ID (such as a passport) to fly. The program was set to be in place beginning May 2023 but has now been delayed two years until May 7, 2025. The first two delays were due to Covid-19. The extension was made so that travelers have enough time to complete the requirements of getting a Real ID. DMVs across the country are still dealing with a backlog that accumulated during the Covid shutdowns.
I know I personally had to drive over an hour each way just to get a passport appointment this summer so I can understand that people are having issues complying with this requirement. I personally will probably not be in too much of a hurry to get one since I do have a passport I can use. Though the next time I need to get my driver’s license renewed and already have to make a trip to the DMV I’ll opt for this one. Regardless pushing the Real ID deadline back will make life easier for travelers and avoid that last-minute hassle to get approved identification.
About The Real ID
According to the DHS
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. These purposes are:
- Accessing certain federal facilities
- Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft
- Entering nuclear power plants
Study Finds Charlotte Douglas Is One Of The Most On-Time US Airports
