The REAL ID deadline has just been extended for the third time.

REAL ID deadline extended by 24 months

The REAL ID enforcement date has been extended by the DHS. The deadline will be extended from May 3 to May 7.

The Transportation Security Administration will not be able to accept driver's licenses and identification cards that do not meet federal standards once the new law is in place.

The REAL ID Act was passed by congress in 2005. Minimum security standards include anti-counterfeiting technology, preventing insider fraud, and using documentary evidence and record checks to make sure a person is who they claim to be.

The REAL ID Act requires all 50 US states and the District of Columbia to issue REAL ID compliant driver's licenses and identification cards.

Will REAL ID requirements ever be enacted?

Why is the REAL ID deadline being extended again?

The extension is needed to address the impact of the coronaviruses on the ability for people to get a REAL ID driver's license. The REAL ID program has been hampered by the state driver's licensing agencies having to deal with the swine flu.

The expired dates of driver's licenses and identification cards were extended by many agencies.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas is the secretary of homeland security.

“DHS continues to work closely with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet REAL ID requirements. This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.” 

The REAL ID requirements were supposed to take effect in 2008. Many governments refused to implement these requirements. States began to become compliant in 2012 and enforcement began in the following year.

It is hard to believe that this has been delayed so many times. Think about the amount of money spent on airport signs related to REAL ID deadlines. It will be necessary to replace all of the signs again.

How many more times can this deadline be extended?

Bottom line

The REAL ID deadline has been extended by another year. Two decades have passed since the REAL ID Act was passed.

It seems like we have been warned about this deadline for the past decade, yet it never actually occurs. There will be another excuse for why this can't be done.

The REAL ID deadline is being extended again.