Transportation Security Administration reports smooth first day of REAL ID enforcement at Colorado airports; agency says 81% of travelers already use compliant identification

May 8, 2025 (Gazette) –

Lines at ticketing counters and through security at Colorado Springs Airport moved expeditiously Wednesday morning, the first day U.S. air travelers are now required to provide an enhanced form of identification to board commercial flights or enter certain federal facilities.

All was as routine at the airport, just as the Transportation Security Administration and airport officials expected.

" TSA will enforce REAL ID and ensure there is no impact to wait times or TSA screening applications, especially for those passengers who are prepared with their REAL ID, passport or other acceptable form of ID," a TSA spokesperson told The Gazette this week, ahead of Wednesday's REAL ID deadline.

REAL IDs are state-issued enhanced driver licenses or ID cards that meet minimum federal security standards passed by Congress in 2005. REAL IDs are distinguished by a star on their front.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during a U.S. House Hearing on Tuesday air travelers who don't have REAL IDs may be subjected to enhanced security procedures, but will not be denied access to flights.

TSA warned early last month that travelers aged 18 or older without REAL ID-compliant credentials or alternative acceptable forms of ID "can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint."

The agency said 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints present acceptable forms of identification, including REAL IDs.

Colorado Springs Airport earns zero-discrepancy report in FAA inspection

The Colorado Springs Airport showed its commitment to maintaining and exceeding safety standards in the aviation industry by earning a "zero-discrepancy" distinction following a comprehensive inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration .

Colorado has issued REAL IDs since 2013. All residents eligible for a REAL ID in Colorado have received a compliant credential, either when they were initially issued or when they were renewed, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles said in a news release Wednesday.

" Colorado has led the way in ensuring our residents are REAL ID ready. ... We are proud to be fully prepared for this important national security milestone, and this success highlights our state’s proactive approach to modernization and public service," Gov. Jared Polis said in the release.

The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office said in early March it was fully compliant with the REAL ID Act. The local DMV has issued REAL ID-compliant identification credentials for more than a decade, officials said.

For more information about REAL ID, who is eligible in Colorado to receive a REAL ID, and how to check if your driver license or ID card complies with REAL ID standards, visit dmv.colorado.gov/real-id-and-colorado.

A full list of TSA -accepted identifications, visit tsa.gov/id.

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