TSA Prepares for REAL ID Deadline on May 7, Urges Travelers to Update ID
With just over a month to go before the new REAL ID rules take effect at airports nationwide, U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials say they are ready to enforce pre-pandemic regulations to enhance security standards for domestic travelers.
TSA spokesman Carter Langston told The Epoch Times that all 50 states are in full compliance with issuing REAL ID cards. He stated that the TSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is monitoring the number of travelers visiting airport checkpoints and is focused on the impact on security screening operations.
“In terms of getting people signed up, so far, what we’ve seen is that about 81 percent of the traveler population that comes through TSA checkpoints is REAL ID ready,” Langston said.
Passed by Congress in 2005 following a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards. During the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2022, Homeland Security officials postponed the original enforcement date for REAL ID from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025.
In a statement provided to The Epoch Times, A4A stated that U.S. airlines are experiencing record numbers of passengers traveling, with more than 2.7 million people flying each day.
“We want all travelers to have a smooth experience, and part of that is to be prepared with the right identification to comply with the new travel requirement,” said Rebecca Spicer, senior vice president of communications at A4A.
While the TSA prepares for the upcoming May 7 deadline, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) officials in some states are informing motorists and residents that REAL ID is not compulsory but an optional requirement.
Scott Hardin, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration’s Office of Motor Vehicles, said approximately 700,000 Arkansans have a REAL ID while 1.6 million still possess a “regular” license or ID.
“While some states require all licenses and IDs issued to be in the form of a REAL ID, it remains an option in Arkansas,” Hardin told The Epoch Times via email.
“While we see the word ‘deadline’ associated with May 7, we are making it clear to Arkansans they can obtain a REAL ID anytime, [but] it will be required to board a flight or enter a federal building beginning May 7.”
Patricia Mancha, TSA spokeswoman for the Southwest U.S. region that includes Arkansas, Texas, and five other states, said the agency is working with state DMVs and airport partners to inform travelers to act immediately. The Southwest region includes Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the nation’s third-busiest airport hub, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enplanement data.
“One of the things that is happening for a lot of folks who don’t have a real ID is that they assume, ‘Oh, I’m just going to walk into the DMV and get my ID the same day.’ You’ll be surprised at how long the DMV lines are to get your license or ID,” Mancha told The Epoch Times.
As noted, the upcoming Memorial Day holiday and the end of May will jumpstart the summer travel season, which lasts through the Labor Day weekend. A year ago, AAA estimated that 43.8 million vacationers traveled 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday travel period. That was a 4 percent increase over the previous year and nearly matched the pre-pandemic record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers in 2005.
Based on strong spring break travel trends, Langston said TSA is hiring workers at airports across the United States to prepare for the summer rush. Mancha also warned that it is every traveler’s responsibility to know and understand the airport security regulations, including the REAL ID requirements.
“We try to work with every single traveler to verify their identity,” she said.
Concerning the May 7 deadline and beyond, the TSA is urging travelers who don’t have their REAL ID or other acceptable documents to arrive several hours before their flight departs. Mancha noted that the TSA will continue to work with travelers who are REAL ID compliant, including those who have lost their ID or had their wallet or purse stolen, as well as those who have not received or renewed their license or ID at the DMV.
“So, if you’re doing that and you don’t have a Real ID, please arrive at the airport at least four hours before your flight,” Mancha said. “And then, finally, understand that we can’t guarantee we will complete the process in time for you to make your flight.”
