The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has pushed the deadline for REAL ID-compliant identification off for another year, until October 1, 2021. The REAL ID Act sets standards for government-issued ID that will be required for travel. The original deadline was 2008, three years after passage of the Act. The latest delay is due to the pandemic keeping issuing offices closed.
Compliance has been pushed off again and again, first by resistance from some states and individuals who felt the creation of a national ID database was a violation of privacy rights. Many still feel that way but will have to comply or not fly, although other documents, such as a passport are acceptable. Most REAL ID documents are ‘enhanced’ driver licenses with extra security features and requirements.
Other issues holding back the deadline have included state budgets with insufficient funding for new technology, the continuing privacy fight, and technical problems with key systems. Most recently, in 2017 when the 2020 deadline was set the delay was based on the need to deal with people who do not identify with a binary gender.
