REAL ID took 20 years to become reality. What took so long?

Under the law, people who want a state-issued driver's license or identification card must verify their full legal name, Social Security number, and proof of residency and lawful status to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The state would then connect its license databases to a national electronic network.

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But, according to Reuters, federal law did not provide states with funds to make the changes. In 2007, at least 13 states opposed the ID card, saying it would cost billions of dollars to administer and increase risks to privacy.

Enforcement was repeatedly delayed due to widespread opposition and refusal by state governments to implement, but by 2012, states began to comply. After numerous extensions by 2020, most states were in compliance, but COVID-19 halted all efforts until December 2022.

The federal agency said that state motor vehicle departments need more time to clear the backlog of applications created by the pandemic, and allowed the deadline to continue until May 2025.

Real ID Act, enforcement timeline

Here are some key dates tied to the Real ID Act and the delayed rollout:

• July 2004: 9/11 Commission releases report recommending the establishment of secure identification standards
• Jan. 26, 2005: The Real ID Act of 2005 was introduced to the House by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
• Feb. 10, 2005: The House passes the bill
•  April 21, 2005: The Senate passes the bill
• May 11, 2005: Former President George W. Bush signs The REAL ID Act into law
• Jan. 29, 2008: The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule with an original deadline for compliance on May 11, 2008.
• Oct. 9, 2013: DHS announces phased-in implementation for REAL ID slated to begin Jan. 20, 2014.
• March 2017: Twenty-five states were out of compliance with the REAL ID Act, and twenty-one of those states were granted an extension to comply with the law.
• March 2020: DHS extends card-based enforcement deadline to Oct. 1, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• December 2022: The Department of Homeland Security said that state motor vehicle departments need more time to clear the backlog of applications created by the pandemic, and allowed the deadline to continue until May 2025.
• May 7, 2025: REAL ID enforcement scheduled to begin.