KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Anyone planning to catch a domestic flight inside the United States will need to have a REAL ID to fly starting May 7, 2025. The Transportation Security Administration plans to start enforcing new rules then, requiring people to have a REAL ID at airports.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005, after the attacks of Sept. 11. It was originally set to start being enforced in 2008, but that deadline has since been extended at least five times. It is now expected to go into effect around 17 years after people were originally expected to get REAL IDs.
"It's time to do this. We want people to be safe on aircraft. We want the minimum standards to be met for identification, for folks traveling on aircraft," said Eddie McGaha, the assistant federal security director for the TSA at McGhee Tyson Airport. "You don't want to be traveling with someone who maybe has a potentially deadly or dangerous item on board the aircraft with you. So, that's the purpose of TSA."
Leaders have spent years trying to get flyers to switch over to the REAL ID system. The act behind it was a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission and was aimed at codifying minimum standards for identification.
"Actually, of the 19 hijackers on 9/11, they had a total of 30 different driver's licenses and IDs. So, this is a way to standardize some minimum requirements for folks wanting to travel on aircraft," said McGaha.
According to a report, around 56% of IDs in the U.S. are compliant with the REAL ID system. People can tell if they have a REAL ID based on whether their driver's licenses have a star on them in the top-left corner.
To get a REAL ID, people in Tennessee need to visit a Driver Services Center and show proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, as well as their social security number. People will also need to provide two documents proving they live in the state, such as paystubs or tax returns.
On top of flying, people will also need REAL IDs to enter federal facilities like military bases. McGaha also said it's not likely the deadline to get one will be pushed back again.
"I do need to stress that travelers without REAL ID on May 7 should be prepared for delays at security screening," he said.