The Origins of Real ID Legislation

The Real ID Act emerged in response to the security failures highlighted by the 9/11 attacks, aiming to bolster national security by ensuring that identification documents are secure and trustworthy. It mandates states to implement new standards for state-issued IDs, focusing on features such as physical security measures and document verification processes. However, it also faced significant contention as the act imposed federal requirements on state-issued documents, complicating the execution. This led to prolonged delays in implementation, as states struggled with the required adjustments while balancing their existing authority over ID issuance.