Woodward Explains the Origins of the REAL ID Act
In a recent article by BU Today, Prof. John D. Woodward, Jr. of Pardee School commented on the federal government’s rationale behind legislating the REAL ID Act. Soon the REAL ID-compliant driver’s license will be required for domestic air travel and accessing federal and military facilities. Besides REAL ID, passports or passport cards are acceptable forms of identification that can be used at security checkpoints.
Post 9/11, one of the administration’s priorities was revisiting the varying eligibility frameworks for driver’s license in individual states, eventually leading to the sanction of the REAL ID Act in 2005 to bolster national security measures.
This act “established higher standards for the processing and issuance of state driver’s licenses and state ID cards,” says Woodward, a former CIA officer. “Under the REAL ID Act, applicants have to provide additional proof of their identity, and the issued credential contains heightened anti-counterfeiting features.”
According to Woodward, one advantage of a REAL ID is that it can be used for Transportation Security Administration purposes, making it an easier alternative than carrying passports. The CIA veteran also underscores a distinguishing characteristic of the REAL ID, i.e., a star in the upper-right hand corner.
The deadline to upgrade a driver’s license to a REAL ID is May 7, 2025. Massachusetts residents have to apply in person through an AAA office or one of the Registry of Motor Vehicles locations. In case of driving, voting, Social Security and veteran’s benefits, bank account registration and visits to the hospital or post office, the use of a regular driver’s license is acceptable.
To read the full article, click here.
John D. Woodward, Jr. is the Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. A former CIA officer, he has served as an operations officer in the Clandestine Service and as a technical intelligence officer in the Directorate of Science and Technology. Woodward, Jr. is a published author and has contributed to prominent news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe.