By REBECCA SANTANA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vacationers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will nonetheless have the ability to fly however must be ready for further scrutiny, the top of Homeland Safety stated Tuesday.

Kristi Noem informed a Congressional panel that 81% of vacationers have already got IDs that adjust to the REAL ID necessities. She stated safety checkpoints may also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.

Those that nonetheless lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID regulation “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem stated.

“But people will be allowed to fly,” she stated. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Safety says is a safer type of identification. It was a suggestion by the 9/11 Fee and signed into regulation in 2005, however implementation has been repeatedly delayed.

Initially Printed: Could 6, 2025 at 11:34 AM EDT