By Melanie Wilcox | Daily Caller, Commentary
The REAL ID Act will be enforced nationwide in all 50 states beginning Wednesday, May 7.
Starting that day, every adult boarding a commercial domestic flight or entering certain secure federal facilities will need to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another form of accepted identification such as a U.S. passport.
Passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 attacks, the REAL ID Act aimed to tighten federal identification standards. But the rollout has been marked by state resistance, logistical challenges and privacy concerns. Some states — over a dozen at one point — flat-out refused to comply early on, citing high costs and civil liberties concerns. (RELATED: Trump’s Former Aides Lead DHS Review At Transportation Security Administration)
If your driver’s license doesn’t feature a gold or black star, you may be turned away at airport security — unless you have another acceptable form of ID like a passport, military ID or Department of Homeland Security-trusted traveler card.