Florida Congresswoman Urges Delay in Real ID Compliance Deadline

ORLANDO, Fla. — U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to postpone the implementation deadline for the Real ID program. In a letter addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Luna urged officials to extend the compliance deadline from May 7, 2025, to May 7, 2027.

Luna highlighted that approximately 20% of Americans have not yet met the Real ID requirements for air travel. With the deadline fast approaching, she expressed concern that many travelers would be unprepared.

“That statistic…reveals that millions of Americans are at risk of being turned away from essential travel, commerce and family obligations,” Luna said. “In practical terms, it represents a potential security bottleneck, economic disruption and an unnecessary infringement on Americans’ right to move freely within their own country.”

The congresswoman from Pinellas County noted that about 80% of travelers are currently compliant, but she worries about the implications for the remaining 20%. She referenced privacy concerns related to the potential enforcement of a federally required identification system, comparing it to the privacy issues following the enactment of the PATRIOT Act after the September 11 attacks.

“Today, the REAL ID Act risks replicating similar overreach by creating a federally enforced identification regime that limits Americans’ ability to travel domestically, access federal facilities or perform everyday activities without carrying government-approved documents,” Luna wrote in her letter.

Luna argues that extending the deadline would not only increase compliance rates but would also allow Congress to reassess the program to ensure it aligns with constitutional rights while addressing legitimate security concerns.

The Real ID deadline has faced multiple delays over nearly two decades due to shifting requirements and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Floridians who renewed their driver’s licenses since 2010 should have the Real ID star displayed on their cards.