DOD requires Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses for facility access
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The Defense Department will no long accept the driver’s licenses or state-issued identification from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington and American Samoa for entrance to its facilities.
Although the Department of Homeland Security backed off its demand that state driver’s licenses be Real ID-compliant in order for them to be accepted as identification for airport security, the Department of Defense said it will no longer accept those states’ licenses as proof of identity at its installations.
In a Jan. 20 announcement, DOD stated those attempting to gain physical access to DOD installations --including military bases and nuclear power plants -- with licenses from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington and America Samoa will have to provide an alternate form of identification, such as a passport.
“All federal agencies including DOD must comply with the law regarding the use of Real IDs for official purposes,” a Defense Department official said. “Hence, where an ID or an installation pass is used for physical access, DOD installations are prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses or state identification cards from states deemed non-Real ID compliant.
Service members, family members and defense and civilian employees who have DOD common access cards, uniformed services identification and privileges cards, federal personal identification verification cards or transportation workers’ identification credentials will not affected, according to DOD officials.
Residents of those states whose driver’s licenses are not Real ID-compliant can still use them for ID at airports to board domestic flights, as the Department of Homeland Security recently announced there will be no security changes regarding the licenses at airports until at least 2018.
More than two dozen states are not yet fully in compliance with the Real ID Act as questions over funding, immigration and linking databases have been raised. Many, however, have been granted extensions until later in 2016.
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