Here’s why Congress thought they needed an actual ID in 2005

In the following year Attack on September 11, 2001the focus on national security of policymakers has led to a drastic change in air travel. However, more than 20 years later, one major requirement that emerged from that era has not yet arisen completely.

On May 7th, Americans will ultimately be required to present an identification card that is based on their actual ID. Domestic flights.

The law mandating a Real ID was passed in 2005, but its implementation has been repeatedly delayed over the years. The Trump administration argued that the deadline has already been delayed long enough, and that travelers have enough time to collect the necessary documents for more rigorously verified forms of identification.

However, critics argue that the urgency and need for this measure is questionable if the deadline can be pushed back for nearly 20 years without flight-based terrorist attacks in the meantime.

What is an actual ID? A deadline approach for new identification cards needed to fly domestically

Close-up shot of a sign urging people to have an actual ID before a trip. (Fox News)

At its heart, the Real Identity Act aims to bridge the security gaps that terrorists can exploit. Before 9/11, the criteria for issuing driver licenses and other IDs vary widely from state to state, with little adjustment or verification of important documents such as birth certificates and Social Security numbers. Some of the 9/11 hijackers were able to use fraudulent documents to obtain legitimate state IDs, allowing them to move freely and board the plane without detection.

The 9/11 Committee Report, released in 2004, strongly recommended the establishment of national standards for identification as a counterterrorism measure. Congress acted swiftly, embedding actual ID provisions into the broader defense and emergency spending bills. This is a strategic move that will help ensure its rapid passage.

In actual IDs, the state must check the reliability of key documents such as birth certificates, social security numbers, and proof of address. It also requires that your ID uses security features that are tamper-resistant.

What did the Bush administration and 9/11 committee say about the actual ID Act?

Signs that outline the documents needed to obtain your actual ID are hung at the Automobile Division office in Troy, New York. (Jim Franco/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

The law was debatable from the start. Civil Liberties Group raised concerns about privacy, data security and the emergence of what is called “Citizen ID Cards.” Many states resisted, citing costs, logistical challenges and fears of federal overreach. Compliance deadlines have been extended multiple times as states upgraded the system and negotiated a balance between security and individual rights.

IDs are required not only for flights but also for access to some government facilities and nuclear sites. Some supporters, such as New York branch of the American Civil Liberties Unionexpressing concern that an ID could ultimately be requested to apply for a job with government benefits.

“Americans need to know that their actual IDs need to travel on May 7th, so these governors were informed to tell them at home. We don’t want anyone to travel late when they go to the airport,” Homeland Security’s Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said at a cabinet meeting earlier this month.

(The actual ID requirement prompted long lines in the DMV.)

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president Donald Trump The actual ID requirements were repeated in the executive order Signed on March 25th It focuses on the integrity of elections.

“This also helps bring integrity to all the IDs and how they are used and how they are used to issue driver licenses. And the governor knows how I feel about ensuring integrity with the driver’s licensing system.