Extend the May 7 Real ID Deadline

Imagine arriving at the airport for your highly anticipated vacation, only to be turned away by TSA for not having the right kind of ID. That will be the reality of millions of Americans, beginning on May, 7 2025 – the national REAL ID enforcement deadline.

Starting May 7, Americans will not be allowed to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities unless they present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card—or an alternative form of federally accepted ID, such as a passport. Those without compliant identification will be turned away at airport security checkpoints and denied access to federal buildings, even for routine or urgent needs.

While we recognize the importance of secure identification and support the intent behind the REAL ID Act, Americans are unprepared to meet the current deadline. Getting a REAL ID is no easy feat. The process requires original documents that many everyday people don't have easy access to – like a social security card or birth certificate.

People across the country have faced:

Long DMV wait times and limited appointment availability in many states
Backlogs and delays resulting from pandemic-era service disruptions
Lack of clear, consistent communication about documentation requirements
Barriers for vulnerable populations, including seniors, people with disabilities, rural residents, and those without easy access to transportation

"I don't have a Real ID, my parents do, in another state, a state I'll have to drive to over 12 hours away to after 5/7/25. This is entirely too quick to reasonably require. It's been optional for awhile, but that's optional. Secondly, these requirements are ridiculously overly strict. Do you know how many older people won't be able to get a hold of their birth certificate? How many poorer folks will have a hard time? Why are we being this harsh? This is all very extreme and over done."

Nicholas
Gallatin, US

The numbers speak for themselves: Millions of Americans still do not have a REAL ID. For example, 74% of Pennsylvanians, 70% of Illinoisans, and 45% of Californians still do not have a REAL ID-compliant license.

Enforcing the deadline without ensuring broader access to REAL ID services may lead to disproportionate consequences—such as denied boarding on domestic flights—for individuals who are not at fault for delays.

Sign the petition to demand a REAL ID enforcement deadline extension to allow more Americans adequate time to obtain compliant identification. An extension would ensure that REAL ID enforcement achieves its security goals without causing undue hardship to everyday citizens.

Sign now with a click

Disagree?

I'm not interested in this topic