The Real ID Act

The Real ID Act was passed by Congress last year, with no hearings, as part of a must-pass military appropriations bill. Real ID will turn state driver's licenses into national identity cards, and impose numerous financial and bureaucratic burdens on taxpayers and state governments.



The act rolls back civil liberties protections, attacks privacy rights, and sets the stage for a national ID. Many diverse groups, including the ACLU, the National Council of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators are opposed to the Real ID Act. Conservative estimates place the minimum cost of the program at $12 billion, and some believe it could cost at least double that.



Read more about the act in our Frequently Asked Questions.