Twenty years later, the REAL ID deadline is here. Here's why it took so long

The 2005 REAL ID law, often linked to the aftermath of 9/11, actually has roots that go back to concerns raised by the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Brian Zimmer, who was instrumental in drafting the law, noted that despite 9/11 adding urgency, the need for better identification standards predated those attacks. The law aimed to make state IDs more secure against counterfeiting and to strengthen verification processes. It cleverly avoided introducing a national ID by enhancing state-level measures, although its implementation proved challenging and met with significant resistance.

The REAL ID law was seen as necessary to mitigate issues around counterfeit identities, dating back to concerns that arose from the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Brian Zimmer discusses how the REAL ID Act was influenced by earlier events, and although 9/11 provided momentum, concerns about identification standards existed prior.

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