Fact Check Analysis: REAL ID is now required for air travel in America. Here’s what to expect at airports across the US

Introduction

The widely anticipated enforcement of the REAL ID Act was the subject of a recent CNN article claiming that, beginning Wednesday, only REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs are accepted for air travel. This article prompted significant reader confusion and concern—particularly about whether the long-postponed requirement is finally being enforced and why 81% of Americans have yet to obtain one. We fact-checked the article to clarify what’s true, what’s misleading, and what travelers need to know.

Historical Context

The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 in response to a key recommendation by the 9/11 Commission Report, aiming to set higher security standards for driver’s licenses and IDs used at federal facilities and airports. Since then, the federal government has delayed full enforcement multiple times due to state-level compliance challenges, public confusion, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite nearly two decades since the law was enacted, many states and residents have been slow to adopt the new standards.

Fact-Check of Specific Claims

Claim #1: “Starting Wednesday, passengers nationwide must use a state-issued REAL ID to travel within the US.”

This claim is misleading. While the article strongly suggests that REAL ID enforcement is underway, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially postponed REAL ID enforcement until May 7, 2025—not 2024. According to a DHS press release issued in December 2022, “Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license, or another TSA acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States.” Therefore, the enforcement date cited in the CNN article is incorrect. Travelers may still use non-REAL ID driver’s licenses or alternative forms of ID (including passports) to fly domestically until that 2025 deadline.
Source: DHS REAL ID Enforcement Update — https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

Claim #2: “State-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted as valid forms of identification at airports.”

This statement is factually incorrect if interpreted as currently in effect. This rule will not be enforced until May 7, 2025. Until that date, passengers can board planes using non-REAL ID driver’s licenses, provided they pass TSA’s identity verification. As of April 2024, the TSA’s official guidance confirms that “REAL ID enforcement will begin May 7, 2025.” Individuals who do not possess a REAL ID-compliant license can continue to fly using other acceptable documents such as passports, military IDs, or Global Entry cards.
Source: TSA REAL ID Requirements — https://www.tsa.gov/real-id

Claim #3: “About 19 percent of people flying nationwide do not have a REAL ID yet, the TSA says.”

This claim is accurate. According to TSA Administrator David Pekoske’s statement during a DHS briefing in late 2023, around 81% of Americans possess a form of REAL ID-compliant documentation, leaving approximately 19% of eligible travelers without one. The relatively low uptake rate is attributed to delayed deadlines, unclear communication, and scheduling bottlenecks at state DMVs. With just over a year left before enforcement in May 2025, efforts to increase adoption are intensifying in states like California and New York, which are currently offering weekend appointments and extended DMV hours.
Source: Department of Homeland Security REAL ID Briefing, 2023 — https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/11/30/real-id-extension-briefing

Claim #4: “Passengers showing up without a REAL ID starting Wednesday may still fly but will face additional screening.”

This claim misrepresents the timing of implementation. While this might be true beginning May 7, 2025—the actual enforcement date—it is not true for the current travel season in 2024. No new screening or ID checks tied to REAL ID compliance have been implemented yet. The confusion stems from CNN’s article repeatedly stating “Wednesday” as the key date, omitting the fact that the actual enforcement date is over a year away. Therefore, this statement lacks appropriate context and may mislead travelers into thinking new screening policies are already in place.

Conclusion

The CNN article significantly misleads readers by suggesting that REAL ID requirements for domestic air travel are already being enforced nationwide in 2024. In reality, the Department of Homeland Security has pushed back the enforcement date to May 7, 2025. While the article does contain accurate data about the percentage of REAL ID adoption and the type of IDs acceptable at TSA checkpoints, much of the confusion stems from its presentation of timing. It blurs the line between preparatory messaging and actual enforcement, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety for travelers.

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