The US transport agency of the United States, TSA, said on Friday that it will begin to apply more rigid identification requirements, which have long been postponed at US airports from May 7, warning that passengers can have their shipments denied.
On May 7, the TSA will no longer accept the state issued identities that are not in accordance with the “Real ID” model. The US Congress approved in 2005 new and more rigorous federal standards for the issuance of ID cards, but the application was postponed several times.
TSA informed on Friday that, from next month, passengers 18 years or older who have no passport or reinforced identification “may face delays, additional screenings and the possibility of not being allowed to go through the security control point.”
The agency said that currently 81% of travelers at control points are presenting accepted documents, including the real ID issued by the state, and added that “it will continue with additional screening measures for those without real ID until this is no longer considered a security vulnerability.”
It is still unclear how rigorous the application of the new rules will be. US airlines are already concerned about a possible drop in demand due to international commercial tensions and economic concerns.
US internal security secretary Kristi Noem noted that people will also need real ID to enter government buildings from May 7.
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In December 2022, TSA postponed the term of application of the requirement of this identification reinforced by May 2025.
The 2005 law enacted the recommendation of the September 11, 2001 committee for the US government to “establish standards for the issuance of identification documents, such as driver’s license”. The law defines minimum safety standards for issuance and production of these licenses.
Many Americans travel by plane only or twice a year, and last year under the government of then-US president Joe Biden, TSA said it could choose to issue up to three warnings before banning travelers to board future flights without the new document.