American opinion: Real IDs should have made air travel safer 15 years ago. America is still waiting. – West Central Tribune

“Government” and “incompetence” are two words forever linked at the waist. The latest example is a funny story.

Tribune Graphic / Forum News Service

After the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, Congress enacted the Real ID Act, a smart move aimed at protecting air travel. By law, travelers over the age of 18 must present a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or ID, or another form of ID approved by the Transportation Security Administration, such as a passport or Global Entry card, before boarding a domestic flight. is needed.

The reason for the change is clear. The 9/11 hijackers were able to board planes using American driver’s licenses and state IDs, most of which were obtained fraudulently. These days, it’s everywhere because fake driver’s licenses are so easy to buy online.

The law was enacted in 2005 and was originally scheduled to come into force in 2008. The fact that 15 years have passed is truly baffling and Real ID remains a worthwhile idea derailed by government inertia.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorcas recently announced that the May 3, 2023 deadline for implementing the law has been extended again, this time to May 7, 2025. It’s an ID-compliant license or identity card,” he said Mayorkas.

Need time? The state said he was given a marching order in 2005—almost 18 years ago. Sadly, the extension of the deadline sent shockwaves through Real ID history. There are myriad reasons for the delay, but selfish politics, government inefficiency, and lack of coordination between government levels are the main ones.

Initially, many states expressed reluctance to comply, partly due to concerns about cost. In practice, the implementation did not hit the state budget significantly. In many cases, states already had the means and technology to move to Real ID.

States such as Montana and Maine have passed laws against Real ID, viewing this law as a violation of their state rights. In Illinois, the Democrats in power in Springfield resisted complying with national security mandates issued by the Republican administration. Real ID was passed under President George W. Bush.

Sometimes the reason for the delay had merit. The pandemic has forced several deadline extensions, including the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to delay implementation until May 2023.

Janet Napolitano, who served as Homeland Security Secretary from 2009 to 2013, was a staunch opponent of Real ID. Before she joined President Barack Obama’s cabinet, she was Governor of Arizona and signed the bill to opt out of Real ID. Once she took over her DHS, she publicly voiced her opposition to the law at an unnecessary cost, prompting many states to stop complying.

Still, Napolitano left Homeland Security ten years ago. Since she left, not enough progress has been made. About a third of Americans still don’t have ID that meets the legal requirements.

What is needed is stronger cooperation between the departments of Mallorcas and state governments, especially the motor vehicle departments of each state, and stronger cooperation to encourage Americans to renew their driver’s licenses and ID cards to become real IDs. It’s a public awareness campaign. Compliant.

The bottom line is that over the years, executive agencies at both the federal and state levels have repeatedly and unnecessarily struggled to enforce laws that increase the security of private air travel. It is difficult to oppose measures that ensure that airport travelers are who they claim to be without actually incurring exorbitant costs.

With a new deadline set for 2025, Real ID will take 17 years to come to fruition. This is not an example of exemplary governance. This is an epic failure.