Real ID Crisis May Hit Airports If Deadline Not Extended: Expert

NEW YORK CITY — A REAL ID crisis will cause chaos at airports across the country unless the deadline to adopt the new cards is extended, a trade group representing the commercial airport industry has said.

In New York City, DMV offices have been overwhelmed by people trying to update their IDs before the Oct. 1 2020 deadline. Existing drivers licenses will not be valid for domestic air travel after that date.

Now the Airports Council – North America, which represents commercial airports in the United States and Canada, has told the federal government that two-thirds of driver's licenses in America or not Real ID compliant and it's going to be a struggle for them to all be updated in time.

Kevin M. Burke, the president and CEO of the group, told NBC News,“If the government doesn’t make a definitive statement now that they’re going to extend this, then we’re going to have a real crisis on our hands come Oct. 1."

Data from the Department of Homeland Security shows states have issued more than 95 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.

The REAL ID law was passed by Congress after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Four pieces of identification are required to obtain a REAL ID: a passport or birth certificate, a Social Security card or tax return, and two documents proving proof of residence, such as a mortgage or rental receipt and a utility bill.

The REAL ID will become mandatory for domestic flights and to enter military bases and other certain federal sites, but it is not required to get a driver's license, vote or to receive federal benefits.