You might still get to fly without a REAL ID next year.
It's been nearly two decades since Congress asked for tougher identity verification when boarding a commercial aircraft or visiting federal buildings, but nearly half of Americans still don't have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card.
This has created a problem, especially for the nation's commercial aviation industry.
The final deadline for TSA to require airline passengers to have REAL ID is just eight months away on May 7, 2025. Anticipating issues, however, the Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security have now proposed giving federal agencies more flexibility when enforcing the mandate.
REAL ID deadline is not extended
In the proposed rule, Homeland Security and TSA make it clear that the May 7 deadline is not being extended. Instead, agencies should be allowed to implement a phased approach that could include warning notices and three-strikes policies that let them begin enforcing the law without immediately denying access to people without REAL ID.
Agencies would be allowed two years before reaching full compliance and enforcement.
"This flexibility would allow these agencies to maintain operational efficiency; reduce security risks born from long lines, incidents, and distractions caused by additional identity verification procedures or turning away individuals who do not have acceptable identification; decrease potential public backlash to security personnel enforcing REAL ID; and limit potential negative impacts to the public," the rule states.
More: Read the proposed REAL ID rule
Several states, including Oklahoma, give residents a choice when applying for a driver's license or ID card. You can get one that meets federal REAL ID security requirements, or get one that doesn't.
According to data provided by Service Oklahoma and Homeland Security, Oklahoma is one of 22 states where less than 40% of cardholders have REAL ID. Nationwide, an estimated 124 million IDs in circulation don't meet REAL ID standards.
At first, state lawmakers rejected the creation of a REAL ID-compliant state driver's license, citing individual privacy concerns. It took Oklahoma's government a decade to finally begin offering it to residents .
COVID pandemic throttled REAL ID
In the rulemaking document, DHS said REAL ID became a less popular choice for people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
More: REAL ID deadline in Oklahoma is coming soon. Here's what you need to get one
Before the pandemic, the national adoption rate for a compliant ID card was 2.5%. It then fell to just half a percent and hasn't recovered. The government also complained that each of those new non-compliant ID cards won't expire for four to eight years.
The pandemic also slowed down the mandatory in-person appointments needed to obtain a new state-issued ID card.
"TSA is engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “REAL ID provides an important security enhancement, and this rule allows us to plan for a range of scenarios to help minimize the potential impact to travelers, industry stakeholders and states during implementation.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: TSA considering 'phased approach' to REAL ID enforcement as deadline approaches
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