Trump Administration to Enforce Real ID
For 20 years, the REAL ID law has been languishing in enforcement purgatory. But Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem recently announced that’s about to change.
Anyone who wants to enter federal buildings, fly, or tour nuclear power plants will soon need a REAL ID. According to Noem, this is for our own good. She said:
Starting May 7, you will need a REAL ID to travel by air or to visit federal buildings in the United States. These IDs keep our country safe because they help prevent fraud and they enhance security. Please do your part to protect our country. Go today and don’t delay.
This is not what I supported!
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. – William Pitt the Younger
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announces everyone will need a REAL ID to fly starting MAY 7. pic.twitter.com/FB7r7QB4zs
— T (@Rifleman4WVU) April 12, 2025
Conservative Pushback
But many Americans aren’t interested in “doing their part.” Noem’s announcement triggered significant pushback.
Former Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) likened justification for the REAL ID to the erroneous justification Americans received about the Federal Reserve Bank. He laughingly pointing out how “they always twist” laws such as these to fool people into believing it’s for their safety. He said advocates of the Federal Reserve justified that monstrosity by claiming it would prevent money counterfeiting. In reality, the point of the Fed was to establish a monopoly on currency. REAL ID, he said, is similar. It’s designed to establish a government monopoly on control. Paul signaled that he was becoming disillusioned with the Trump administration:
I’m not very happy with the direction we’re going right now. It looks like we’re going to lose a lot
Article from LewRockwell
LewRockwell.com is a libertarian website that publishes articles, essays, and blog posts advocating for minimal government, free markets, and individual liberty. The site was founded by Lew Rockwell, an American libertarian political commentator, activist, and former congressional staffer. The website often features content that is critical of mainstream politics, state intervention, and foreign policy, among other topics. It is a platform frequently used to disseminate Austrian economics, a school of economic thought that is popular among some libertarians.
