Countdown to REAL ID (December 31, 2009)
Following the deadline of May 11, 2008, state driver's licenses and identification cards were not to be accepted for federal purposes unless the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determined that a state was compliant with the REAL ID or a state had been approved for an extension by the Secretary of DHS. All 56 U.S. jurisdictions have received an initial extension from the Secretary of the DHS. The initial extension is valid until December 31, 2009.
DHS estimates the costs for states to implement the REAL ID will not exceed $3.9 billion.
To date, Congress has appropriated only $90 million to assist states with implementation of the REAL ID. The President's FY 2009 budget proposal included $50 million for federal verification system development and connectivity support, while the $50 million state-focused REAL ID grant program created in FY 2008 is zeroed out in favor of a new $110 million National Security and Terrorism Prevention Grant program. | 
National Governors Association
