Only 70% of state-issued identifications would be REAL ID-compliant by the May 2025 deadline, raising the prospect of turning away millions of travelers from airport security checkpoints.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wants to take a phased approach to enforcing REAL ID requirements when the program goes into effect next year.

TSA has set a final deadline next year for enforcement of the federal government's Real ID mandate but with some flexibility for noncompliant travelers.

While Real ID was on track to go into effect on May 7, 2025, it's now looking like it won't happen until 2027. The delay comes in the form of a new proposal from the TSA that would give travelers more time to get their paperwork up to date and ready to go.

"Because of the history of extensions related to REAL ID enforcement, (the Department of Homeland Security) believes that the public may continue to expect that additional extensions are likely and not feel urgency to obtain a REAL ID.