Arizonans without Real ID may still be able to fly — but "no guarantee," TSA warns
After more than a decade of delays, Wednesday is the enforcement deadline to have a Real ID to board a commercial aircraft in the U.S.
Yes, but: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is now saying passengers without proper credentials will still be allowed to fly, but with extra screening.
Driving the news: Noem told a congressional panel Tuesday that those who still lack an identification that complies with the Real ID law "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step," the Associated Press reported.
"But people will be allowed to fly," she said. "We will make sure it's as seamless as possible."
Zoom in: Phoenix Sky Harbor spokesperson Eric Everts told Axios the airport will station employees pre-security this week to assist travelers with questions about the new ID requirements.
Those who do not have a Real ID will be diverted to separate lines near TSA security checkpoints for additional identity verification, he said.
Between the lines: TSA spokesperson Patricia Mancha told Axios that security officials will work to verify the identities of people without Real IDs, but there's "no guarantee" they'll be able to do so promptly.
She recommended these individuals arrive at the airport well in advance of their flights.
They will go through the same process as people who lose their ID while traveling and arrive at the airport without any documentation, Mancha said.
They'll be asked questions about themselves (previous addresses, etc.) and be subject to additional screening of their belongings and person.
What they're saying:"It's really a numbers game. If we have 100 people who don't have an ID and you're 99, that's when time becomes an issue," Mancha told us.
She noted that TSA plans to separate people without Real IDs from other passengers to avoid delaying people who came prepared.
Catch up quick: Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government have one standard source of identification, rather than accepting state driver's licenses, which have state-specific requirements.
The Real ID adoption date has been delayed numerous times — the initial deadline was in 2008.
In addition to air travel, Real ID requirements apply to visits to military bases and secure federal buildings like courthouses.
How it works: Arizona's version of Real ID is called the Arizona Travel ID. It's available as either a driver's license or state ID card.
They're distinguishable as Real IDs by a black or gold star in the upper-right-hand corner.
By the numbers: The Arizona Department of Transportation has issued about 2.77 million Travel IDs since they first became available in 2016, up from 2.5 million in February.
Caveat: Passports are Real ID-compliant, so long as they're not expired, and can be used in place of a state Travel ID.
About half of Arizonans have a valid passport, per estimates from the Center for American Progress, a think tank.
The fine print: Arizonans can still secure a Travel ID by visiting an ADOT office (appointments are recommended and can be secured online). The department recommends doing so at least two weeks before scheduled air travel.
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Axios
41 minutes ago
- Axios
Scoop: Gabbard tightens grip on intel assessments after Venezuela clash
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has imposed a more intensive review process for inter-agency reports, slowing their publication and deepening internal fears about political influence on intelligence, two U.S. officials tell Axios. The intrigue: The new layers of approval were introduced after Gabbard's acting chief of staff pushed for changes to a politically inconvenient report on Venezuela from experts across multiple intelligence agencies — an internal dispute that spilled into public view. Driving the news: That report from the National Intelligence Council (NIC) cast doubt on links the White House had drawn between the Tren de Aragua cartel and the Venezuelan government to justify deporting suspected gang members to El Salvador. Gabbard fired the acting heads of the NIC who approved that report last month. Her office said it was part of her efforts to "end the weaponization and politicization of the Intelligence Community." Veterans of U.S. intelligence warned the episode would send a "chill" through the community. "Nobody wants to give the boss what he or she needs to hear if the messenger is going to get shot," a former senior intel official told Axios. After the Venezuela controversy, Gabbard announced that she'd referred"deep-state criminals" to the Department of Justice over suspected leaks. Behind the scenes: She also quietly added a new layer of approval for NIC reports. An intelligence official said everything now needs sign-off from Deputy DNI for Mission Integration William Ruger or from Gabbard herself. An intelligence official told Axios the result was a slower flow of intelligence to policymakers. "The mere fact that they're going through all these steps has brought it to a trickle." "The process has definitely become more cumbersome," another U.S. official said, concurring that the NIC was publishing less in recent weeks than it had previously. In response to questions from Axios, an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said it was normal for the DNI or Deputy DNI to review reports prior to publication. The official did confirm changes had been made. "Considering the heads of the NIC were terminated for their inability to remove political priorities from the workplace, there is an even more comprehensive review of the products coming out of the NIC to ensure the office is producing apolitical intelligence." "This is good for the trust of the American people in the intelligence community and for the safety and security of our nation," the official contended. The other side: A former member of the NIC, which is typically staffed by career intelligence officials on rotation from other agencies, told Axios he'd never heard of that level of intervention by DNI leadership into the publishing process. "The NIC is a production mill for the DNI, so to require everything to be going through Mission Integration, or wherever else, would have constipated the system," he said. Between the lines: The changes reflect the mutual distrust between the intelligence community and its new leadership. Intelligence officials worry Gabbard's team may shape intelligence to match their political preferences. But Gabbard's team claims "deep state" officials are shaping the intelligence to match their political preferences, hence the review process. How it works: The NIC is responsible for providing assessments that take in the views of all U.S. intelligence agencies, often in response to requests from the White House. Typically a relevant subject matter expert at CIA or another agency will draft a paper which is then circulated among the relevant analysts at a dozen or so additional agencies for their input. The final product is published by the NIC in a classified format, and provided to the relevant policymakers. These can range from a one-pager turned around quickly on a hot-button issue — some aspect of the war in Ukraine, for example — or a months-long deep dive into an adversary's nuclear capabilities or terror threats to the homeland. In the case of the Venezuela report, the assessment was that the Tren de Aragua cartel was not being controlled by the Venezuelan government — contradicting a claim President Trump made while invoking the Alien Enemies Act. Joe Kent, Gabbard's chief of staff, wrote intel officials in April that "some rewriting" and more analytic work was needed "so this document is not used against the DNI or POTUS," the New York Times reported. Intelligence community members Axios spoke to for this story raised concerns that after the Venezuela episode, analysts could start to self-censor or simply keep their heads down to avoid political backlash. What they're saying: "Ensuring only the most timely, apolitical, and accurate intelligence reaches the desks of our decision makers is DNI Gabbard's top priority," Gabbard's spokesperson Olivia Coleman told Axios.
Buzz Feed
42 minutes ago
- Buzz Feed
60 Items To Make Hitting The Road, Sky, Or Tracks Easy
A travel brush with a hidden compartment that'll be great for hair elastics, fashion tape, local currency, and all kinds of other little things that don't quite have a place to go in your personal item. ALSO have you tried to use a mini brush to brush your hair? I've broken, like, three of them with my mane. This is also a normal-size brush. A flat RFID-blocking fanny pack can work underneath your clothes or as just a regular waist bag. So it's a little go with the flow — within reason. An anti-theft neck wallet that's also RFID-blocking so you'll more easily navigate your cruise-ship excursions without having to keep your hands hovering over your pockets the entire time. Pickpockets exist, and you've gotta be aware of 'em, but let's focus on taking in the sights. A digital luggage scale will make sure that you aren't slammed with an overweight luggage fee (ugh) or having to move stuff from your checked bag to your carry-on to avoid said fee (also, ugh). A set of three Cadence containers that are magnetized and'll stick together in your toiletries bag AND on your metal cruise ship bathroom walls. They're super sturdy, leak-proof, and even work great for a few days' worth of vitamins or holding small jewelry. They've quickly become one of my packing go-tos. A TSA-friendly toiletries set you can easily fill, clean, and then refill with your go-to regular products. And the bag is sturdy as HECK. Or if you're not in need of containers, a clear TSA-approved toiletry bag to Lego-fit all your liquid and spreadable bbs in there with ease. Some reusable bottle bags because did you even go to the Champagne region if you didn't bring back some goodies? Even better: If your bottle breaks in this, the bag catches the spill! A 2-in-1 travel pillow and blanket in case you've found in-flight options seriously lacking and can't get any shut-eye without a cozy blanket. A Trtl travel pillow that, thanks to its scarf-like construction, you can easily adjust to your perfect comfort level and tilt angle to get some Zzzzzs while someone else gets you to where you're going. (And if you run hot, there's now a ~cool~ version.) Some vinyl picnic table and bench covers reviewers found extremely helpful for camping and park use. A garment and travel bag set can cover you when you've gotta keep your outfit for your college roommate's wedding festivities tidy and wrinkle-free, and you have trust issues with airline baggage checks. It'll easily fold and unfold as you need it. A quick-drying microfiber beach towel built to shake off sand and pack small in your suitcase. No need to sneak out a hotel towel to the beach! A set of Sea Bands with a little nub that targets the acupuncture point on your wrists meant to help reduce nausea. This'll be great in case anyone gets motion sick in the car or on a boatride. A portable door lock to attach to any regular old door for your hotel, vacation rental, room in a guest house, or, well, just any door. It's super easy to install and won't damage the door. It'll be a comfort for solo travelers, especially. A set of towel clips you'll be grateful you packed once the wind kicks up as you're 20 feet away tossing a football with your pals. (And you can use it to hang up your wet swimsuit after.) A *foldable* wide-brim hat for helping you keep the sun off of your face, make your outfits look even cuter, and easily fit in your carry-on without crushing it. A Baggallini anti-theft travel backpack that'll make it harder for anyone who gets some (illegal) ideas while you're marveling at [insert picturesque view]. A compact eight-compartment pill organizer so you'll have space for all the stuff you take from all the delicious food that sometimes makes you feel bad on your travels. A roomy beach bag with a waterproof section to hold your phone, Kindle, and other items that ABSOLUTELY cannot get wet. A hard-shell roller suitcase with a pocket on the front for your laptop to make getting through the TSA line much more effortless and then resting assured that it's safe in the overhead. Plus! It's equipped with TSA-approved locks! Or a wheeled carry-on bag small enough to qualify as a personal item on super stringent airlines. It can fit underneath an airplane seat! You can avoid checking a bag, glide through security, *and* don't have to hurt your shoulder by carrying a duffel bag that'd also fit strict bag measurement policies. Take that, Spirit Airlines. A pair of quick-dry water shoes can help you traverse nearly every kind of ground you may come upon — whether it's while zip-lining, walking along a rocky beach, or just walking around the cruise ship deck. A fanny pack with a ton of storage room inside that has a long enough strap to wear crossbody *or* comfortably fit over outerwear so you can use your arms to help you balance while teetering toward a glacier. If you plan on wearing it across your chest, attach your waist buckles together with a zip-tie to prevent it from getting unclipped from your back. An *very popular* off-the-shoulder jumpsuit suited for just about any sightseeing needs. But it's also comfy enough to wear while you're getting where you're going. Gentle 2-in-1 travel flossing toothbrushes that'll fold up to half their size (every inch in your luggage counts!) and really get in there to give your mouth a super-clean feeling. Like, just-back-from-the-dentist cleaning. I always pack these for trips and their tiny flossing bristles make my travel nighttime routine a lot easier and more efficient. A portable crib canopy to create a sleep pod for your little one. And it even has pouches for a monitor and fan! Sleeping in unfamiliar places is tough enough for adults. Let's make it easier on the kids too — which in turn will also make the adults happier. A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets in case the thought of putting something else on your skin besides SPF (like smelly bug repellent) sounds like a total nightmare. A portable safe for securing to a pool chair to keep your valuables safe or to keep your passport in your hotel room in case there's no safe or the safe isn't working. A stroller fan with bendable foam legs for wrapping around a stroller, car seat, or pretty much anything to keep your lil' munchkin cool as a cucumber, even when it's a gazillion degrees outside. A stick of Gold Bond Friction Defense will stop chafing caused by sweat before it even starts. It's sooo good and better than any other competitor in the thigh-saving category. Toss this in your bag and apply before you go on that long, lovely beach stroll. A CarryAround foldable cup holder you'll think you're a dang genius for buying (and you'd be right) after you easily carry back four beers from the snack bar in one hand. It'd also be smart to pack this for your next all-inclusive vacation. Lumify Eye Drops beloved by the masses who've tried other redness-reducing eye drops before. Yes, these are a bit pricier than other versions. But reviewers say it's totally worth it! Oh, and don't forget that it's also made to help relieve dry eyes. (Just because you TOOK a red eye doesn't mean that you have to put up with literal red eyes.) Some anti-pickpocketing clips that'll easily attach two zippers and make it extra difficult to quickly zip open. An Arden Cover anti-theft *and* waterproof vegan-leather purse that won't *look* like an anti-theft bag — in case that's the reason you don't already own one. Gotta love a bag that'll get you through sudden rain. A hands-free (rotating!) phone mount can help you watch what you want or take advantage of the movies available online for those budget airlines without TVs in the back of the seats. It'll work on the plane *or* while you wait to board. An Airfly wireless transmitter that'll let you connect your Airpods or any wireless headphones to your airplane without Bluetooth! An Apple AirTag for each bag to give you some peace of mind while you wonder how your checked bag is doing in the hold below. An I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo to tackle greasy roots without the aerosol or benzene formula. This'll even be easy to take to the bathroom toward the end of a red-eye so you can deboard feeling a bit fresher. A cute portable charger can fit in your coat pocket or bag. And you can also easily use your phone while it charges! And because it's small enough to fit in your pocket, you can easily keep it with you at your seat. A travel scarf with hidden storage in it that'll keep your hands free for taking pics without having to stick your phone, wallet, and keys in your back pocket. A set of compression bags that'll, yes, help you pack more stuff into your suitcase but also keep your clothes airtight against any spills. OR keep your dirty clothes away from your clean clothes and vice-versa. A fold-flat jewelry organizer if you've given up on a blocky jewelry organizer. (Same!) This design will let you easily slip your baubles into your personal item without hogging a bunch of space. A set of cooling patches can work some soothing magic for a variety of uses including (perhaps most importantly), sunburn. But it'll also help with itchiness from bug bites and poison ivy. And! They're TSA-friendly. So you can probably leave your aloe vera gel at home. A portable blackout curtain to suction onto where your staying's window to give you some deep DEEP darkness you need for sleeping. Collapsible travel hangers will help you better organize all your beautiful ensembles *and* have a legit place to hang up any clothes you launder while you're on your luxurious two-week vacation. A 4-in-1 travel adapter that'll work for a wide range of countries because you shouldn't have to google which adapters you need before every international trip. There are better things to do, like talking yourself into packing that one dress you've only worn once but MIGHT wear on this vacation. A simple luggage strap will hold your essentials like a travel pillow, jacket, personal item, and more as you scoot along through the airport and once you land. Here's to quickly gathering all your stuff post-screen and freeing up those hands! A trifold travel wallet so all your important documents are in one place and you're not wearily holding up the line when it comes time to show the TSA agent your passport and boarding pass. A pack of LeakLocks Toiletry Skins you can slip onto the tops of your full-size toiletries because, yay, you don't have to worry about liquid toiletry limits on a road trip! These little things catch any spills before they can get all over your PJs you threw in the same bag with your full-size shampoo. An electronics organizer with a place for just about every one of *your* and every member of your family's devices and corresponding cables so you don't get everything tangled up while searching for that ONE cord. A weighted sleep mask that'll help block out the reading light and/or sunlight from your neighbor's open airplane window shade while you catch up on some of that sleep you sacrificed to get the early flight. Oh, and it's weighted! A soft faux-leather tote will be the perfect personal item on the plane so you don't even have to pack it in your carry-on! And it would be useful as a day bag (of course keep your valuables zipped up concealed and tucked away inside) with plenty of room for your souvenirs. A mini lightweight flat iron to help you get your signature smooth locks, or at least tidy up your blowout you're really banking on lasting for a few days. A set of affordable, highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds some reviewers compare to AirPods for significantly cheaper. I was able to wear mine comfortably under my bucket hat while I slept on a very rocky bus ride from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. And while I was out exploring, the charging case easily fit in my coat pocket. A luggage-mounted cup caddy with a pocket for your bagel or croissant (look at you being fancy so early in the morning!) so you can steer your way to your airport gate with your caffeine in tow. A Venus travel razor that'll spare you some precious space in your bag without sacrificing quality. On a recent cruise, it didn't take up too much room on the minuscule shower shelf so I wasn't fighting for space *as* much while feeling like Buddy The Elf in the shower. An airplane seat back organizer because those seat back pockets are NEVER as big as you need them to be. With this, you can actually store your snacks, water bottle, and so much more without having to get up and get stuff out of the overhead throughout your flight. A pack of toilet seat covers can create a (colorful) barrier between your toddler's curious hands and public toilet seats at rest stops. A set of Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier packets, an electrolyte drink mix infused with potassium and vitamin C you can mix into a bottle of water to help speed up your hydration. After all, guzzling water on a flight and then having to spend half the flight in the bathroom line is never fun.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump says he plans to phase out FEMA after 2025 hurricane season
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this year's hurricane season, offering the clearest timeline yet for his administration's long-term plans to dismantle the disaster relief agency and shift responsibility for response and recovery onto states. 'We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level,' Trump told reporters during a briefing in the Oval Office, later saying, 'A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can't handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn't be governor.' 'A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can't handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn't be governor,' the president said. Trump added that the federal government will start distributing less federal aid for disaster recovery and that the funding will come directly from the president's office. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects this year's hurricane season, which officially ends on November 30, to be particularly intense and potentially deadly. For months, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, have vowed to eliminate the agency, repeatedly criticizing it as ineffective and unnecessary. Noem reiterated those plans Tuesday in the Oval Office, saying FEMA 'fundamentally needs to go away as it exists.' 'We all know from the past that FEMA has failed thousand if not millions of people, and President Trump does not want to see that continue into the future,' Noem said. 'While we are running this hurricane season, making sure that we have pre-staged and worked with the regions that are traditionally hit in these areas, we're also building communication and mutual aid agreements among states to respond to each other so that they can stand on their own two feet with the federal government coming in in catastrophic circumstances with funding,' she said. Noem is co-chairing a new FEMA Review Council, established under Trump, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The council is expected to submit recommendations in the coming months to drastically reduce the agency's footprint and reform its operations and mission. Plans to eliminate FEMA have baffled federal and state emergency managers, who doubt localized efforts could replace the agency's robust infrastructure for disaster response. Most states, they said, do not have the budget or personnel to handle catastrophic disasters on their own, even if the federal government provides a financial backstop in the most dire situations. 'This is a complete misunderstanding of the role of the federal government in emergency management and disaster response and recovery, and it's an abdication of that role when a state is overwhelmed,' a longtime FEMA leader told CNN. 'It is clear from the president's remarks that their plan is to limp through hurricane season and then dismantle the agency.' The agency has entered hurricane season understaffed and underprepared, after months of turmoil, plummeting morale and workforce reductions. At least 10% of its total staff have left since January, including a large swath of its senior leadership, and the agency is projected to lose close to 30% of its workforce by the end of the year, shrinking FEMA from about 26,000 workers to roughly 18,000. In a last-minute push to bolster hurricane preparedness, Noem reopened several FEMA training facilities and lengthened contract extensions for thousands of staffers who deploy during disasters. The agency's influence is already shrinking in this administration. Last month, Noem appointed David Richardson – a former marine combat veteran and martial-arts instructor with no prior experience managing natural disasters – to lead FEMA. Richardson, who came from the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office at DHS, has since brought in more than a half-dozen homeland security officials to help him run the agency, relegating more seasoned staff to lesser roles. Until recently, Richardson had said his team was preparing an updated disaster plan for this hurricane season. But last week, CNN previously reported, Richardson told FEMA staff that the plan will not be released, saying the agency does not want to get ahead of Trump's FEMA Review Council and that the agency will attempt to operate as it did in 2024. Meanwhile, communication and coordination between the White House and FEMA also appear to be breaking down. In several recent cases, the president approved disaster declarations, but it took days for FEMA – which is tasked with actually delivering that financial aid – to find out, delaying funds to hard-hit communities. Trump's exact long-term plans for the federal government's role in disaster response remain unclear, but the administration is already discussing ways to make it far more difficult to qualify for federal aid. 'The FEMA thing has not been a very successful experiment,' Trump said Tuesday. 'It's extremely expensive, and again, when you have a tornado or a hurricane or you have a problem of any kind in a state, that's what you have governors for. They're supposed to fix those problems.'
