Coronavirus Latest: COVID-19 Pandemic Pushes REAL ID Deadline Back 1 Year
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/CNN) -- The deadline to obtain a REAL ID, federally mandated identification that will be needed for passengers to board aircraft, will be extended until Oct. 1, 2021 -- a year past the current deadline, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate stimulus bill also requires the deadline to be pushed until at least the end of September 2021.
PennDOT previously closed its driver and photo licenses centers and paused issuing REAL IDs due to the coronavirus pandemic. PennDOT says the centers will remain close until at least April 3.
"We are very pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has listened to our concerns, as well as the concerns from our fellow states regarding the need for a postponement on REAL ID enforcement in the midst of this national emergency," PennDOT Acting Secretary Yassmin Gramian said.
Before the coronavirus pandemic swept across the U.S., states were preparing to issue residents "REAL ID-compliant" driver's licenses or identification by the Oct. 1, 2020 deadline.
As of last month, only about 35% of U.S. IDs complied with the REAL ID Act, a post-9/11 law that establishes security standards for licenses. Once in effect, travelers flying commercially in the U.S. will need to have a REAL ID, which is marked by a star on the top of the card.
Even before the outbreak, it was unlikely that all states would meet the deadline. Last month, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told lawmakers that the prospect of all states being able to issue their constituents a REAL ID by October 2020 was "probably fairly small."
The Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for the identification program, is delaying the deadline to allow state and local authorities to focus on the coronavirus response.
States across the country have temporarily closed or restricted access to DMVs, keeping millions of people from applying for their new IDs, according to DHS.
"Extending the deadline will also allow the Department to work with Congress to implement needed changes to expedite the issuance of REAL IDs once the current health crisis concludes," Wolf said in a statement Thursday.
President Donald Trump said Monday the fall deadline for states to comply with REAL ID requirements would be extended.
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