Starting May 7, all US air travelers aged 18 and older will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport, to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities, specifically those serving jets. The small commuter flights that buzz around Alaska are not impacted by this requirement, as passengers do not go through Transportation Security Administration screening to reach their boarding gates.
The upcoming enforcement marks the culmination of the REAL ID Act, enacted by Congress in 2005 to enhance national security following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The rollout has been, however, delayed five times.
A REAL ID-compliant license is typically distinguished by a star in the top right corner. To obtain one, applicants must visit the Department of Motor Vehicles and provide specific documentation, including proof of identity (such as a birth certificate or passport), proof of Social Security number, and two additional proofs of residency. The ID is manufactured out of state and mailed to the recipient, and it can take a few weeks.
In Alaska, while obtaining a REAL ID is not mandatory for non-commercial drivers, those holding a commercial driver’s license are already required to be federally compliant and must upgrade to a REAL ID at the time of license expiration, if not already compliant.
Air travelers who do not possess a REAL ID-compliant license by the deadline will need to present an alternative form of acceptable identification, such as a valid US passport or some military ID types to pass through TSA checkpoints. Failure to provide such identification may result in being denied access to flights or federal facilities like military bases or nuclear facilities.
Alaska has updated its identification cards. Both the standard ID cards and REAL ID-compliant cards feature the new design but are distinguished by specific markings. REAL ID cards will display a star symbol in the top right corner to indicate compliance, while standard ID cards will not have the star and will include the notation “Federal limits apply.”
Alaskans report that lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles offices have been long, sometimes hours. Even if you get through the REAL ID process, the ID cards themselves are not printed on the spot, but will arrive in the mail weeks later.
Truly sad that Trump/Noem didn’t give us another delay from this onerous glo alist requirement. It’s all about control, and does nothing for security.
Yep, where is Doge on this?
Not a peep.
This has absolutely nothing to do with globalism. This Real ID requirement was a gift from the state of California to the rest of the nation when they insisted on their power to issue drivers licenses to illegal aliens. In order to maintain the security of domestic air travel, the feds came up with this silly idea instead of requiring passports for domestic travel. (If you’re smart, you’ll take your passport, anyway……)
Our problems aren’t foreign globalist boogermen in Europe. Our problems walk around among us with their heads brimming with more stupidity and rebellion than we can possibly survive, and we’re forced by morality to share our lives with them peacefully.
The super cool thing about this is if you live in Alaska, renew your ID then suddenly have to travel… as far as I can tell you are hosed. Unless you have a passport or passport card. Still, it sets people up to be in an unexpected bind if the timing is off. Kind of lame…
“Kind of “?
Totally lame. A government growth program and a money grab.
My kids think this will become a ‘National” voter ID.
“…unexpected bind…” if you are willfully ignorant.
Yeah, totally lame…that idiots couldn’t get their sh!t together in the last seventeen years since the original deadline.
Whether or not it should be a law, or if it will become a national ID, or even if everyone who voted for the Patriot Act should be hung for treason, is completely irrelevant to the whining in the last week.
‘Oh Noe! I was too stupid to notice for the last decade and a half plus that this was going to be required, and do something about it before this.’
Uh huh. My heart bleeds for you.
Timing is off? FF: The law has been around for 20 years. Even Alaska has been offering Real ID since 2018(?)
I blame George W for this and the TSA.
What a fool he was to create it, another Gov agency full of unionized Democrat voters.
And for what?
A bad actor needs only to stand on the long, packed, crowded TSA line, w/ his bag that has not been checked yet, in order to hurt & kill a lot of people, as our Government has rounded them all up for him (how nice of them)
When it rolled out, Nome had FIVE TSA people standing in the ONE room terminal; a room where everybody knew each other.
Gov stupidity on steroids …. imo.
“…….And for what?…….”
To keep airplanes from becoming weapons of mass destruction………again……..
….But illegal aliens won’t need Real IDs because their citizenship status was already secured by Joe Biden. Drivers licenses stamped with a gang symbol is good for Real waiver.
Need to give credit where credit is due: During her tenure as Commissioner of Administration, Kelly Tshibaka pushed hard to get Real ID in place in Alaska.
As Suzanne points out, this requirement is an offshoot of the 9-11 hysteria. The creation of DHS & DNI also resulted. It’s not clear how democrats will react to REAL ID because that star on the Driver’s License establishes that you are a US citizen. As we all know democrats don’t want anyone to necessarily be a U.S. citizen to do anything in this country. They also think that minorities are somehow incapable of obtaining an ID of any kind. At least that is the excuse they use about requiring an ID to vote. It will be interesting to see how REAL ID plays out. It is unlikely that the Trump administration will yield on this requirement.
Wayne–You are incorrect. A person does not need to be a US citizen to obtain a REAL ID. Lawful permanent residents, those with temporary resident status, and other non-citizens with valid immigration documents can also get a REAL ID. The REAL ID only establishes identity, not citizenship status.
This is dumb enough that some .mil retiree cards are not valid. Think on that for a minute.
Thank you for your service. Sure. 🤔
I’ve been using my retired military ID to fly for years and have never had an issue. Military ID cards are considered Real ID.
Your right to locomotion. Usurped by bureaucrats. Imprisoned by the state bureaucrats. It looks to me like the US Constitution has been abandoned by all fifty states. Congratulations shadow governmint the textbooks did not teach the people how to keep the republic.
You don’t want extra layers of security when you fly on a plane? OK.
Marbury v Madison.
Something I haven’t seen anywhere in reporting about this is what will happen at airports on May 7th and beyond?
Will everyone who does not have a compliant ID be turned away at TSA? Will the check in folks be checking to see if you have compliant ID? Will there be two lines, one for those with correct ID and one for those without?
Not having a Real ID or Passport wont affect me as I actually have both, but I don’t think I should have to wait in a TSA line with all the folks who don’t have the compliant ID.
Right now it sounds like an airline decision as stated below. Alaska Air said if I don’t have a Real ID when I fly at the end of the month I won’t be allowed on the plane. TSA may be more lenient but there could be a separate line.
I did some more research last night after posting my questions, and found that while the airlines will be informing passengers about the “new” requirements for compliant IDs, it is TSA that will be the ones who enforce the need for Real ID/compliant IDs.
And just this morning, Kristi Noem said that you can still travel without a compliant ID, you would just be subject to additional screening and will need to fill out a Federal/TSA form 415 certifying your identity under penalty of law.
And TSA is suggesting that anyone who is flying in the next couple weeks be ready for long waits at TSA lines while people figure this out. Some are suggesting that you arrive for a flight from a busy airport 4-6 hours before your departure.
My suggestion is that there be two lines, one for those with compliant IDs and one for those without. Get in the wrong line, sorry you go to the back of the right line and wait your turn. Poor planning on other peoples part does not constitute an emergency for me.
It shouldn’t be difficult here in Anchorage as TSA never has more than two lines out of four open when I travel. Often it is just one line for all.
It’s not that bad. I set aside a morning knowing I’d spend a few hours at the DMV. I was just under 2 hours. I got my permanent ID in one week. DMV Express is doing it too, a friend said it took under an hour but you pay double ($80 instead of $40). Now, make Real ID mandatory for voting. BTW, I got an email from Alaska Air saying if I didn’t have Real ID for my flight later this month, I’m not flying.
Amazing that having a TSA Known Travel Number (KTN) does not count as “real ID” considering I was fingerprinted, mug shot, showed proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate) and paid $75. Guess all state government’s need to get in on the money grab.
Real ID goes beyond TSA. TSA cannot share all the info on you with other agencies. Other agencies don’t have a way to verify you KTN.
Ok you know that how? When my ID is scanned then what system is being used; FBI, CIA, NSA, SSA, Interpol, DOJ, DoD, ATF etc. etc.?
I agree Bnow. Had to go interview in person for TSA Known traveler Id and what for now.?? How many pictures and pieces of ID does one person need.?? It’s all gone madd. The real I’d is not recognized by Canada.
Papers please.
Real ID is not recognized by Canada because it only establishes your identity, not your citizenship. Like any other country, Canada wants to know what country you’re a citizen of when crossing their border. That requires a passport for air travel or a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license, NEXUS card or certified copy of birth certificate for land and marine crossings.
Agreed that this is odd. I have a highly secure document issued by the federal government that bears my photo and fingerprints that while old, is still, to my knowledge, valid. Personally, I would honor that document before a State-issued Real ID. What do we really know about the State governments of New Jersey and Delaware? Biden was from Delaware.
Nazi Germany would not let its citizens travel without papers.
No one in a free nation should have to show their papers to freely travel, or enter a public building.
Those that want to push this on Americans are following the Nazi approach, and they should be treated like the scum that they are.
You can travel freely. But, because of security concern, you can’t board a commercial airliner without the proper ID. No one in a free nation should have to show papers? If we have an Islamic extremist/terrorist in our free nation, should they be included in this statement?
Right, Jim. You are guilty until you prove yourself innocent.
Oh, wait, that’s not how its supposed to work in a free country.
No, you’re just verifying that you are who you say you are. We should have the same procedures for voting. You know, to weed out imposters and dead people.
And you miss the point entirely Jim. We are a free country. We are not under any requirement to verify who we are when we travel.
If you are capable of reading the Tenth Amendment, you may begin to understand why these Nazi- like rules are unconstitutional.
Real ID legislation violates the Tenth Amendment, which ensures that “powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
We are a free country?
We WERE a free country until some jacka$$ decided to rewrite the immigration laws and allow every country in the world to release their burden of incarcerated criminals and send them packing to the US for the long list of freebies offered by Joe’s welcome wagon funded by FEMA.
Innocent women and children are no longer “free” to go jogging through the park without the risk of murder and rape.
This narrative is emblematic of our government from top to bottom. Illegal aliens, gang members, black marketeers, under-the-table cheaters all operate with impunity. Meanwhile, IRS, TSA, ATF, EPA, FBI, etc, etc, etc harass, regulate, stifle and shake down the hardworking, legitimate, taxpaying citizens. The entire system is inverted with corruption. We need a biblical correction.
You had 20 years to prepare. Boo hoo
No way that woman is 440 lbs.
Do NOT Comply! It is a digital jail. Great cartoon here. ‘https://annecantstandit.substack.com/p/i-didnt-realize?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F994ea9d1-f158-43ed-998a-25e4de262e4e_1200x1972.gif&open=false
The Real ID is part of the plant to usurp your medical, financial, and social freedom
‘https://rumble.com/v6st2it-digital-ids-a-threat-to-health-freedom.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
You can fly without a Real ID. https://www.cchfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Yes-You-Can-Fly-1.pdf
“Lose the Real ID” and join the freedom fighters. Change your Real ID back to a regular driver’s license without the white star. We want the number of people WITHOUT the Real ID to INCREASE to demonstrate that we are rejecting this intrusion into our privacy and freedom and rights. ‘https://www.cchfreedom.org/national-id/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
So, do you advocate for minimal ID when someone crosses our border??
We advocate for no one crossing the border illegally. Americans who are traveling have passports. Those who are trying to break in do not. Funny thing you liberals seem to love, you allow the illegals to come in with NO ID. Criminal records? No problem. You’ve raped a child? No problem. You are engaged in human trafficking? No problem, come on in.
For only ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS you can get the TRUMP GOLD REAL ID. Overnight delivery to your doorstep, and you can also use it to tour the Oval next time you’re in DC to see the new “Dictator Chic” redecoration. Additional benefits accrue as well if you pay with $TRUMP meme coin.
Ah Dog, we know you are a really big fan of President Trump….stop hiding that fact!
Wow I didn’t know that it shows.
Weird, all the upgrades being done at the White House are being financed by the President from his own pocket and donors.
Gold styrofoam made in China.
After Joe and Hunter got done with the “White” house I am sure it needed a thorough cleaning and makeover as well as flushing the surrounding exterior spaces where the topless strippers were putting on shows for the kids.
For once I actually semi agree with you aside from the Trump nonsense. The wheels were in motion on this long before Trump arrived. I just find it odd that the same people who complain about our borders complain about showing proper ID to board a commercial jetliner.
Dr. Dan! Calling Dr. Dan! STAT!