A deadline has come and gone for travelers to upgrade to a compliant ID card before the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began enforcing the requirement at airports.
The Actual Identity Act, which was enacted by Congress in 2005, officially took effect on Wednesday. This has raised questions about whether Americans can still travel domestically without compliance.
Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem and other officials are working to clarify the situation regarding these requirements.
During a House Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Noem mentioned he does not have an actual ID card but has a flight scheduled for Wednesday. He indicated he would still be able to travel, though it would involve some extra steps.
“What happens tomorrow is that people come through the line. If they present an ID that isn’t compliant, they might have to go through a different line and face additional steps, but they are still allowed to fly,” the DHS secretary explained to lawmakers.
A senior official from DHS noted that TSA will notify passengers who lack a compliant ID or alternatives like a passport of their non-compliance. These travelers will be directed to a different area for additional screening.
“TSA will implement the real ID requirements while ensuring that there are no delays in waiting times or the screening process, especially for those with a compliant ID, passport, or other acceptable forms of identification,” the official stated on Tuesday.
The law from 2005 was designed to improve national security and to establish guidelines regarding the IDs citizens must provide to their states in order to receive identification documents like driver’s licenses.
Actual IDs are available in all 50 states, and individuals in five U.S. territories as well as Washington, D.C. can visit their local Automobile Division to obtain them.
Recently, there’s been a noticeable rise in the demand for actual IDs, leading state offices to extend their hours to accommodate the influx of applicants.
“We encourage people who have passports and other compliant documents, or those without immediate travel plans, to apply now to avoid long waits while they seek their actual IDs,” a spokesperson remarked to the Associated Press.
