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Real ID deadline: Here’s what you should find out about airline journey
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Patricia Mancha of the Transportation Security Administration and Bill Lamoreaux of the state Department of Transportation clarify the upcoming Real ID deadline of May 7, 2025, for Arizonans.
Air journey is as soon as once more dealing with disruptions from a authorities shutdown.
The Department of Homeland Security, which incorporates airport safety underneath the Transportation Security Administration, is shutting down Saturday, Feb. 14. That means air vacationers nationwide and at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport might expertise delays at safety checkpoints.
Congress failed to succeed in a deal to fund DHS after appropriations have been scheduled to expire on Friday, Feb. 13. Democrats and Republicans proceed to barter Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms after ICE brokers in Minneapolis shot and killed two U.S. residents, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.
The shutdown comes lower than two weeks after a four-day partial shutdown of six authorities companies, together with DHS and the Department of Transportation. While airport safety will probably be impacted by the shutdown, air site visitors controllers won’t.
The remainder of the federal government is funded. Why is DHS shutting down?
While a lot of the companies have been funded for a yr, the spending bundle that ended the partial shutdown earlier this month solely funded DHS for 2 weeks.
That’s as a result of Democrats in Congress won’t assist funding Homeland Security with out ICE reforms. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said these reforms embody the tip of so-called roving patrols in cities like Minneapolis, stricter use-of-force requirements and prohibiting ICE brokers from sporting masks.
Some of those reforms face opposition. Republicans and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman assist ICE brokers persevering with to put on masks due to the specter of doxing, when somebody’s private data is printed on-line, typically maliciously.
Despite the funding lapse in Homeland Security, staff deemed important would proceed reporting to work. These include ICE agents.
Is TSA affected by the federal government shutdown?
The Transportation Security Administration is a part of Homeland Security and is affected by the shutdown.
TSA officers, who’re answerable for airport safety in airports nationwide, together with Sky Harbor, are thought of important and would proceed to work.
Workers who give flight clearance and confirm at Border Control are additionally deemed important.
Travelers ought to put together for longer-than-usual waits in safety as some officers might not report back to work through the shutdown.
Security checkpoints at Sky Harbor had largely regular operations throughout earlier shutdowns, however often skilled wait instances of greater than 20 minutes. As of 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, Sky Harbor reported safety wait instances between seven and quarter-hour.
Travelers can get hold of reside updates on the airport’s safety waits at skyharbor.com.
How lengthy will the DHS shutdown final?
It’s too early to say how lengthy the DHS shutdown will final. It is determined by whether or not Congress can cross a invoice that can fund Homeland Security by means of the remainder of the yr.
While folks won’t discover the results of a shutdown in its early days, it turns into extra noticeable the longer it drags on. For instance, through the longest-ever shutdown that ran from October to November 2025, air site visitors controller shortages have been so extreme that a number of airports, together with Sky Harbor, have been required to chop flights.
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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s coated journey and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s client journey reporter goals to assist readers navigate the stresses of touring and get one of the best worth for his or her cash on their holidays. He might be reached at [email protected].
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