Identification cards issued by the Defense Department will continue to be accepted by the Transportation Security Administration for domestic airline travel after the May 7 deadline for travelers who use a state-issued ID to comply with new REAL ID rules.
TSA officials say DoD Common Access Cards, Uniformed Services ID cards and the older DoD ID cards for military family members and retirees are acceptable forms of identification, as are Personal Identity Verification Cards issued to some Defense Department civilian personnel.
With the approach of a deadline for domestic passengers who use a state ID for travel to comply with the REAL ID Act, misinformation has abounded regarding whether DoD ID cards would be accepted at TSA airport security checkpoints. Last week, the official installation Facebook page for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, erroneously posted retiree and family member military ID cards would no longer be accepted.
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The post was removed shortly after it was created, but not before some followers noticed. The Fort Bragg public affairs office said Thursday the post was removed after it was found that it contained erroneous information.
"We sincerely apologize for sharing inaccurate information and for any confusion this caused," the Fort Bragg public affairs office said in a statement.
Military retirees and spouses or dependents with DoD identification cards that have an "INDEF" expiration date have reported facing issues at TSA checkpoints in some U.S. airports in the past several years and continue to do so, according to emails received by Military.com.
Issues with an indefinite expiration date occur, because the TSA's computer system interprets the "INDEF" date as "expired."
In these cases, TSA may ask for another acceptable form of ID such as a REAL ID compliant driver's license, passport or other acceptable form of ID. If the traveler is not carrying another ID, TSA may conduct a supervisory review of the document and traveler.
TSA officials say travelers can expect delays at checkpoints when the enforcement begins on May 7, especially those traveling with a state identification that is not REAL ID compliant. If a traveler does not have an acceptable alternative, they can expect additional screening "and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint," according to TSA.
Roughly 81% of travelers already have acceptable forms of identification, the agency said.
President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act into law in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state drivers licenses and identifications as recommended by the commission that studied the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S.
Many states refused to implement the law, citing cost and the lack of federal funding to change their processes. Eventually, however, they began to comply. The deadline was extended several times, including at the start of the pandemic, when work was halted until December 2022. TSA officials said they are committed to begin enforcing it May 7.
"The REAL ID requirement bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. TSA will implement REAL ID effectively and efficiently, continuing to ensure the safety and security of passengers while also working to minimize operational disruptions at airports," acting TSA administrator Adam Stahl said.
In addition to REAL ID-compliant state IDs, accepted alternates include U.S. passports or U.S. passport cards, Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry, the Veteran Health Identification Card and more.
A complete list is available at tsa.gov/ID.
The TSA website notes, however, that the "list of acceptable IDs is subject to change without notice," and urges travelers to "check the list again before traveling so you do not arrive at the airport without acceptable ID."
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