Real ID Enforcement Has Been Pushed Back. Again.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005. 17 years later, it’s worth asking if it’s finally time to scrap the law.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005. 17 years later, the law has yet to go into effect. On Monday, government officials announced that enforcement would be delayed another two years.

What’s taking so long? Rollout of the law, which would require travelers flying domestically in the United States to show a security-enhanced photo ID, has been plagued by confusion and state-level noncompliance. Despite years of warnings that enforcement was coming soon, it seems increasingly clear that Real IDs are far from actually becoming required at U.S. airports and federal buildings.

The Real ID Act was passed in 2005 as part of a wave of post-9/11 security-enhancement measures. The law was intended to curb the use of forged identity documents—apparently in response to the fact that most of the 9/11 plane hijackers used fake IDs to pass through airport security. In order to get a Real ID, individuals must provide extra documentation proving they are U.S. citizens or legal residents. The resulting ID cards are designed to prevent duplication or fraud and are marked with a star.- READ MORE