REAL ID: From Total Rebellion to All 50 States Falling in Line (Mostly)

All 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories are officially on board with REAL ID requirements before the federal deadline of May 7, but getting here was anything but a smooth ride.

Back when REAL ID became law in 2005, thanks to President George W. Bush, it sparked a rebellion among state leaders. Some saw it as a classic case of federal muscle—more rules, more paperwork, and (of course) no extra funding to soften the blow.

Montana’s then-governor Brian Schweitzer didn’t mince words, branding the law a “harebrained scheme” and an “unfunded mandate” that states were expected to just swallow. He even passed a law banning Montana’s DMV from following REAL ID rules, calling it a “threat to privacy” in a letter to Colorado’s governor. Now that’s a level of state stubbornness you almost have to respect.

Washington state’s governor, Christine Gregoire, wanted Uncle Sam to pony up $250 million if they expected her to play along. She was also crystal clear: REAL ID did nothing to protect Washingtonians' privacy.

Republicans got in on the resistance too. Pennsylvania’s then-governor Tom Corbett signed a 2008 law barring state agencies from touching REAL ID. But the state did a 180 in 2017, when Governor Tom Wolf reversed course and got Pennsylvania back in the game.

Fast forward to now—state governments are officially compliant, but not all residents are. New Jersey, for example, can barely get folks into the DMV for a REAL ID. Only 17% of New Jerseyans have one, and the state can’t keep up with the demand. If you can snag an appointment, consider it your lucky day.

Just this week, Kentucky state Senator Jimmy Higdon asked the Department of Homeland Security to push back the May 7 deadline, a last-minute plea that probably sounds familiar to anyone who’s ever needed more time for a term paper.

So, what does compliance mean? States have met federal standards for issuing driver’s licenses, but residents are free to stick with their old IDs—as long as they’re cool with carrying a passport at the airport. For REAL ID, you’ll need to hand over your Social Security number or other personal info for verification. The infamous “star” in the corner of your ID is the golden ticket for domestic flights, unless you’d rather fumble with your passport at security.

Why did it take so long? Delays piled up thanks to COVID-19, resource headaches, and states dragging their feet on compliance. But after nearly two decades of drama, the finish line is actually in sight.

Current governors of Montana, Washington, and Pennsylvania have been asked for their take on the journey from defiance to compliance, but no word yet. Maybe they’re digging up their old "harebrained scheme" speeches for nostalgia’s sake.