New REAL ID Requirement Adds Airport Hurdles Ahead of Summer Travel Surge

US travelers are facing fresh hurdles at airport security checkpoints this summer, as the federal government begins enforcing the long-delayed REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel, Bloomberg reports.

Starting Wednesday, all domestic air passengers must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or an accepted alternative form of identification, such as a passport or enhanced driver’s license, in order to board a flight. The change marks the end of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) acceptance of standard state-issued licenses at security checkpoints.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Tuesday that the transition could lead to longer lines and added confusion at airports across the country.

“Anyone without a compliant ID may be diverted to a different line or face an extra step,” Noem told a House Appropriations subcommittee. “But people will still be able to fly.”

The new requirement adds to an already challenging travel environment as summer approaches. Passengers are already grappling with unpredictable weather, ongoing airport construction projects, and air traffic control staffing issues. In one recent incident, air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily lost radar and radio contact with multiple planes, forcing a temporary scale-back of operations at the busy New Jersey hub.

The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 as part of the security overhaul recommended by the 9/11 Commission. But implementation has been repeatedly delayed amid resistance from states and concerns over the cost of upgrading license systems. Some state officials criticized the law as an unfunded federal mandate.

Despite the new enforcement, officials believe most travelers are already prepared. Noem said about 81% of US airline passengers currently have REAL ID-compliant identification. In addition to REAL ID cards, TSA will continue accepting US passports, tribal ID cards, and military IDs.