PENNSYLVANIA — The Transportation Security Administration announced Monday that the REAL ID requirement has a final deadline with some added, optional flexibility.
TSA, alongside other federal agencies, will begin REAL ID enforcement on May 7, 2025.
Starting on that date, only state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established by the REAL ID Act will be allowed for official purposes, including boarding commercial aircraft.
Federal agencies have the option to use a phased enforcement approach, but must coordinate their enforcement plans with TSA and make them publicly available on agency websites.
“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by the 9/11 attacks,” said TSA administrator David Pekoske. “Identity verification is foundational to security. I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant. We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports.”
The REAL ID Act, enacted pursuant to a 9/11 Commission recommendation, established minimum security standards for state-issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards that federal agencies may accept for purposes of boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, accessing certain federal facilities and entering nuclear power plants.
TSA will provide additional information about its use of phased enforcement authority on TSA.gov.
For more information on REAL ID, please visit TSA.gov/real-id.
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