Starting today, most travelers flying domestically within the US must present a federally compliant driver’s license or identification card—known as a REAL ID and marked by a star in the upper right corner—to airport security or to access other federal facilities.
Travelers without a REAL ID-compliant license or identification will still be allowed to board domestic flights, but should expect extra screening, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Currently, 81% of US travelers have REAL ID-compliant identification.
Congress enacted the REAL ID program in 2005 in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations that the federal government set standards for issuing state identification documents like driver’s licenses. Its goal is to enhance the security and reliability of state-issued identification, making it harder to forge and requiring states to verify applicants’ information more thoroughly.
The program, originally set to launch in 2008, faced repeated delays due to states’ concerns over implementation costs and privacy, limited federal funding, technical challenges, and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New US Travel Requirement added by Staff on
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