Trump Administration Puts Foot Down: No More REAL ID Extensions for Kentucky or Anyone Else

The Trump administration has made it crystal clear: there will be no last-minute reprieves for states lagging behind on REAL ID compliance. Kentucky lawmakers recently pleaded for a deadline extension, but federal officials say the rules stand—May 7 is the drop-dead date for nationwide implementation.

After a jaw-dropping 20-year face-off between state and federal governments, the REAL ID saga finally has an end in sight. Starting May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID or another approved form of identification (think passport or military ID) to board domestic flights. The TSA confirmed, "Non-compliant passengers may expect wait times or additional measures at airports. If you are an illegal alien without a REAL ID, the only way you will be permitted to fly is if you are self-deporting." That’s about as blunt as government messaging gets.

Kentucky’s top lawmakers, including Senate Transportation Committee Chair Jimmy Higdon and 27 state senate leaders, sent Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a letter on April 17 begging for more time. Their argument? Kentuckians are still facing endless DMV lines and limited appointments. Higdon stressed that rural residents, seniors, and families are getting squeezed, and only about 40% of Kentuckians have a REAL ID. He also pointed out that many folks might not even need one, but that message hasn’t quite landed yet.

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island also raised concerns, asking Secretary Noem how TSA plans to handle the surge of non-compliant travelers. He noted that 20% of air travelers still rely on IDs that don’t meet the new requirements, and millions of Americans are racing the clock.

The REAL ID Act, signed by President George W. Bush in 2005, has been a magnet for controversy ever since—privacy worries, state rights, and the cost have all kept the roll-out stuck in neutral. The ACLU, among others, has been a vocal critic, calling the law “discriminatory, expensive, burdensome, invasive, and ultimately counterproductive.”

Despite shifting deadlines and multiple states pushing back, the federal government is standing firm this time. Kentucky’s plea is the latest sign of panic as Americans scramble to their DMVs in hopes of beating the clock for their enhanced IDs. Looks like procrastinators everywhere are about to get a crash course in federal deadlines—whether they like it or not.