REAL ID enforcement begins — all domestic air travelers must present compliant ID or a passport at TSA checkpoints

After 20 years of delays since Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 following the 9/11 attacks, TSA begins enforcing the law on May 7, 2025. All domestic air travelers 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant state driver's license (marked with a gold or black star), a passport, or another TSA-accepted document to board commercial aircraft or enter secure federal facilities. As of the enforcement date, 81% of passengers already present REAL ID-compliant or otherwise acceptable forms of identification. TSA allows phased enforcement with additional screening for non-compliant travelers rather than denying boarding outright. The law also applies to access to military bases and federal buildings such as courthouses.