REAL ID Is from the Government, and It’s Here to Help?
By: Michaeljon Murphy
Director of Communications
Constitution Party of Wisconsin
When the REAL ID law was passed in 2005, 25 states passed laws prohibiting compliance and 12 states passed resolutions opposing REAL ID. In 2016, President Obama added pressure by dishonestly stating that someone would not be able to fly without a REAL ID. By 2018, most states were in compliance with the federal rule. Although today, 45 states do not require you to have a REAL ID. The federal law hopes to bypass 10th Amendment concerns by not demanding what the states do, while still directing the TSA to not accept state IDs that are not in compliance. Some states that had prohibited issuance of the REAL ID later backtracked, fearing that their citizens would be prohibited from flying. By the way, there are other forms of ID that are accepted, but this information is not readily shared.
The MSM Loves REAL ID
Richard Petty Gets His REAL ID. NCDOTcommunications, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
After years of delay, in May 2025, when the law was finally about to require REAL ID, there were countless media puff pieces cheerfully telling citizens to hurry up and get their REAL ID. It was a bit shocking that something coming from the Trump administration was being talked about universally as a good thing. That alone should have been a red flag. It was as if the media had received a new set of marching orders, pivoting on a dime to speak only good things for once about an aspect of Trump policy. Remember how the media marched in lock step with the same talking points about President Joe Biden being “sharp as a tack,” and how they flipped in unison after the final presidential debate to state that Biden was not fit to be the Democratic candidate? The unanimity of the positive coverage on REAL ID was highly suspicious. Though a Trump initiative, being asked to give up some liberty for temporary promises of safety seemed to be something worth the mainstream media getting behind with gusto.
Any Other Purpose?
The REAL ID Act states that the “official purpose” for the ID is access to federal buildings, nuclear facilities, commercial flight “and any other purpose that the Secretary shall determine.” This caveat opens the door for a national ID or something similar to the COVID-era “digital vaccine passport.” The idea of restricting even domestic travel within the continental US smacks of Soviet-era “traveling papers.” It may also lay the groundwork for the specter of a Chinese-style social credit system if the REAL ID were to be digitized. Sec 202, d, (3) gives the requirements that “subject[s] each person applying for a driver’s license or identification card to mandatory facial image capture.”
Pushback Goes Both Ways
Image by freepik
On September 11, Rand Paul introduced his Safeguarding Personal Information Act of 2025. The straightforward, 2-page bill repeals title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005. Title II is the section with the heading “Improved Security for Driver’s Licenses and Personal Identification Cards.” The bill has been referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
On Nov. 20, the TSA announced an $18 fee for people who do not have an “acceptable form of identification,” such as a REAL ID or passport. Just 10 days later, they increased this fee to $45. The fee is only good for 10 days, so someone on a longer trip would need to pay the fee again before boarding his/her return flight. The fee supposedly goes towards the “TSA Confirm.ID” program which runs a background check and involves taking digital biometric photos.
Get Informed and Fight
Twila Brase of Citizen’s Council for Health Freedom said, “TSA Confirm.ID and the fee are not voluntary for Americans who refuse to follow an unconstitutional federal demand. The TSA is demanding what they have no right to demand. The only question is why this demand is coming from the Trump administration.” CCHF has an invaluable information page about REAL ID and how to work against it at http://refuserealid.org. Wisconsin is not one of the states that requires REAL ID. You can refuse to add the extra star to your driver’s license. If you have already gotten your REAL ID, you can make the switch back to a standard driver’s license. You do not need to wait for renewal. You can join the list of people who have made the switch at the Refuse REAL ID website mentioned above.
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