Due to a security law passed 20 years ago, many Americans are now required to update their driver’s license or identification cards to become REAL ID-compliant — or they won’t be able to board U.S. flights.

With the deadline fast approaching on May 7, some conservatives have called on President Donald Trump to do away with the inconvenient requirement that they say violates civil liberties. 

On May 7, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will no longer accept driver’s licenses or ID cards that do not have a star in one of the upper corners to represent their REAL ID verification. To become REAL ID-verified, applicants have to provide additional verifying information like Social Security numbers. 

Flyers who don’t have REAL ID verification on their license should plan to use a passport, a passport card, a permanent resident card, military ID or an enhanced driver’s license offered by some states.  

'MASS SURVEILLANCE': CONSERVATIVES SOUND ALARM OVER TRUMP ADMIN'S REAL ID ROLLOUT

The TSA says it will begin "phased enforcement" on May 7, but it’s unclear whether that means turning away travelers without proper documentation or subjecting them to additional security screening.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an FAQ on its website that travelers without "a REAL ID-compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025, will not be permitted through the security checkpoint."

In a federal rule established this year, the TSA says its "phased approach" could last two years, with the potential to issue warnings to people without REAL ID verification. 

Access to other federal facilities and nuclear power plants will also require a REAL ID, according to DHS. 

Drivers who have recently renewed their driver’s license may already have a REAL ID. Check for the star in the upper right or left corner. Otherwise, check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles office on how to get a REAL ID or make an appointment to get a new license. 

You’ll need documentation to show your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number and lawful status, as well as two proofs of address. If you don’t have your Social Security card, you can provide a W-2 or pay stub with your name and Social Security number on it. 

NO 'REAL ID' APPOINTMENTS OPEN IN NEW JERSEY AS RESIDENTS SOUND OFF: ‘GET WITH THE TIMES, NJ'

Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act in 2005 after the 9/11 Commission warned that it was too easy for bad actors to obtain a driver’s license.

Implementation of the law has been marred by delays in getting all 50 states and U.S. territories to implement the new requirements and start issuing advanced identification, which the federal government estimated would cost $11 billion in 2007. 

The 2020 deadline was pushed back multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TSA senior official Adam Stahl said recently in an announcement that REAL ID "bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists."

Some on the right have cried foul, and questioned why, if previous administrations have delayed the implementation, it is necessary now. 

When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a video reminding Americans of the May 7 deadline, former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin responded: "Or what?? Evidently, existing ID requirements for American citizens just aren’t adequate now, so Big Brother is forcing us through more hoops for the ‘right’ to travel within our own country."

Palin continued: "Other administrations delayed this newfangled, burdensome REAL ID requirement. Are you curious why its implementation is imperative now?? And who came up with this?"

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., argued in an X post, "As long as the pilot’s door is locked and no one has weapons, why do you care that someone who flies has government permission? REAL ID provides no benefit, yet presents a serious risk to freedom. If a person can’t be trusted to fly without weapons, why are they roaming free?"

Massie took shots at Trump in a follow-up post: "REAL ID is a 2005 George Bush-era Patriot Act overreach that went completely unenforced until Trump got into office. Let me guess: he’s playing 4D chess and I should just go along with it?"

Trump ally Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., rebuked REAL ID critics in his own public statement. 

"The REAL ID Act was passed way back in 2005, 20 years ago!!!! It’s about time everyone stop dragging their feet. Quit scrolling through social media, quit complaining, get your info together, and get down to the DMV to get your REAL ID," Alford said Wednesday. 

The White House could not immediately be reached for comment on the criticisms of REAL ID. 

Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report.

• I took my first adults-only cruise in August 2023 with the luxury cruise line Virgin Voyages.
• The ship was full of surprises, from a tattoo parlor to a playground for grown-ups.
• The biggest surprise of my adults-only cruise was that it made me feel like a kid again.

After my first cruise in 2022, I didn't think the vacation style was for me.

On board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, many offerings were geared toward children, from waterslides to splash pads. With kids running around screaming on the pool deck, it was tough to relax. By the end of the trip, I was ready to give up cruising altogether.

Then, I heard about Virgin Voyages, a luxury, adults-only cruise line that first set sail in 2021. I thought sailing on an upscale ship free of children might change my mind about cruising, so I booked a seven-night Mediterranean cruise in August 2023 on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship. I stayed in a cabin with a balcony, and the starting rate was $5,910, though Business Insider received a media rate for the weeklong cruise.

My trip was far better than my first cruise. I sailed in peaceful luxury from Spain to Italy and France, and the ship was full of surprises I never saw coming.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back! Guy Fieri, who has a $100 million contract with Food Network, has a rule for his children's inheritance: "If you want this cheese, you got to get two degrees." Find out how one son is trying to negotiate the terms.

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On the agenda:

• Can a clean mouth help you live longer?
• Floral ice cubes and crudités: A BI writer lived like Meghan Markle for a weekend.
• A plastic surgeon shared the cosmetic procedures his male clients are getting.
• Director Ryan Coogler's latest film is also his most personal.

But first: Is that the smell of fresh paint?

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If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

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This week's dispatch

It's home improvement time (without Tim Allen)

There's something about seeing the early signs of spring — when flowers start to bloom, and trees come back to life — that makes change just a bit easier to bear. It's why it's the perfect time for your home to reflect the change you're seeing around you.

You've already decluttered what Santa Claus left for you under the tree, and have — presumably — started on spring cleaning. Now, it's time for some home improvements. (Renters, this is for you, too!)

Don't worry about tariffs threatening to raise prices. You don't have to spend a lot to transform your space.

Budget-friendly upgrades like a fresh coat of paint, new plants, or a new statement rug in high-traffic areas can do just the trick. For an instant upgrade, try installing new light fixtures or finally moving that old recliner out and getting a statement piece of furniture.

And don't forget about outside of your home, too, when thinking about a refresh. Landscaping can not only breathe new life into your home but also increase your home's property value. That's what's called a win-win.

Ready to roll up your sleeves? Leggo.

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Keep your mouth clean

The oral microbiome might be the next big wellness trend. Growing research suggests dental hygiene could lower the risk of chronic diseases, and some of the loudest voices in the longevity space are spreading the word.

Dentists and scientists told BI how the oral microbiome is related to overall health and recommended a few simple steps to promote good hygiene.

What to know about the oral microbiome.

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The Duchess treatment

Some critics panned Meghan Markle's Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" as unrelatable and amateur. But what if the Duchess of Sussex has something to teach us?

BI's Anneta Konstantinides spent a weekend living like Meghan and, in her words, "It was quite the trip." After cooking and crafting for 48 hours, Anneta learned more than just how to be a good host.

Living like Meghan.

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Men's favorite cosmetic procedures

When Dr. Mark Epstein began his career in plastic surgery, only 2% of his clients were men. That number has since shot up to about 10%.

Men aged 18 to 80 are requesting procedures for anti-aging and weight loss. The most popular treatments are tied to male-pattern baldness, while breast reduction is more common among men than you might think.

Fillers and injectables are on the rise, too.

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Ryan Coogler's next big swing

For BI's latest installment of its "Director's Chair" series, the "Black Panther" director shared how his fifth feature film, "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan, came to be.

It's the first time Coogler tackled an original concept — rooted in his family's history and his uncle's love of the blues — with some vampires added to the mix.

And Coogler is set to own the film's rights.

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What we're watching this weekend

• "Companion": After releasing in theaters earlier this year, the sci-fi horror-comedy, starring "Yellowjackets" actor Sophie Thatcher and "The Boys" favorite Jack Quaid, is now streaming on Max.
• "Daredevil: Born Again": Season one of the Marvel series about lawyer-vigilante Matt Murdock came to an end this week with a gory finale.
• "Ransom Canyon": Fans of shows like "Yellowstone" and "Virgin River" can check out Netflix's new romantic drama, starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly.

See the full list

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What to shop

• Travel more with these credit cards: If you've been meaning to start traveling on points and miles, now's a great time — two top travel credit cards are offering welcome bonuses worth $1,000 or more.
• A hands-free purse alternative: Whether you're traveling or just running errands, having your hands free is a game changer. After testing dozens of styles, we've found the best crossbody bags for the job.
• AirPods for non-Apple users: Though AirPods are great for style, convenience, and iPhone integration, there are plenty of more affordable alternatives. Some even offer better audio and Android-friendly features.

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More of this week's top reads:

• Weight loss in a pill? Eli Lilly took a big step closer to making it happen.
• I stayed at two all-inclusive resorts in Central America. I'm still dreaming about one of them a year later.
• Four mistakes you should never make at the grocery store, according to an etiquette expert.
• A busy father and business owner got shredded at 42. He said 3 simple things helped him stay in shape for a decade.
• Melinda French Gates says she no longer cares if people don't like her: 'Maybe that comes with being 60.'
• A top nutritionist explains her alternative '5 a day' food rule, which makes caring for her gut health easy.
• Pedro Pascal's 'Mandalorian' salary information is getting turned over to Gina Carano in her legal fight against Disney.
• This stroller is getting $300 more expensive because of tariffs, a baby store owner tells me.

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The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City (on paternity leave). Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• Jing Gao is the founder and CEO of Sichuan chili crisp company Fly By Jing.
• She told BI that the brand is still committed to sourcing ingredients from her hometown in China.
• The tariffs "rob Americans of an accessible way to connect with and appreciate cultures at a time when we need it most," she said.

"An Update from Jing on Tariffs." This was the subject line of an email from the popular chili crisp brand Fly By Jing. I'd previously purchased the brand as a gift, and the message landed in my inbox on April 11, just a few days into an escalating trade war between the US and China.

Founded in 2018, the small business is best known for its popular Chinese chili crisp varieties, sold in stores like Target and Whole Foods. The email said that, as of when it was sent on April 11, the brand's products were subject to a 160% tariff rate, compared to 15% before President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs announcements.

"These tariffs have a material impact — not just on our business but countless others, and are disproportionately impacting small, independent brands like ours," the email read. "The integrity of our ingredients, their specific terroir, and the craftsmanship of our products are highly local to Sichuan and will continue to be."

I scoped out the brand's Instagram page and saw a video of founder and CEO Jing Gao discussing the tariffs' impact on the business and reached out to hear more. Here is the conversation we had over email, with my questions in bold, and Gao's answers below.

How are the tariffs affecting your business?

Considering the volatility of the current tariff conversations, it's really important for us as a brand to fully assess the landscape before making major, potentially irreversible decisions. Currently, no orders or shipments are on hold, and our priorities are continuing to source the ingredients for our core sauces from the Sichuan province and keeping our pricing as affordable as possible.

The tariff announcements have been on and off, and rates have fluctuated. How did this affect your planning?

The current volatility is disruptive and will prove debilitating to many independent businesses. We are fortunate to have built resilience into our organization over the last six years to be able to weather the storm. We have not yet made any major business decisions as we await stabilization, but these fluctuations are impossible to plan for and disproportionately affect small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Can you talk about why it's important to you and to the business to source your products from Sichuan?

One of our key goals through this all is to maintain the integrity of the ingredients in our core products. Our ingredients come directly from Sichuan — fermented black beans, highly prized Tribute peppers, Erjingtiao chilis, and cold-pressed roasted caiziyou — and simply cannot be grown anywhere else.

Last year, you actually dropped prices. Do you see the tariffs impacting product prices going forward, and if so, do you have a timeline on that?

Price accessibility for our products is a core tenet of our brand at Fly By Jing. Our mission is to expand palates and introduce new flavors nationwide, so we need our products to be affordable. In service of this, we implemented a significant price decrease last year — even amid rising inflation — and are reaching more homes than ever. Due to the current volatility, it's important for us as a brand to fully assess the landscape before making decisions that will have long-term implications. Right now, our priority is to keep prices as affordable as possible while maintaining the integrity of our ingredients.

What has your average day looked like in recent weeks? Are you working longer hours as you navigate the situation?

We're at a pivotal moment as a brand and are very focused on expanding to reach new audiences. This news cycle, and its implications, is clearly very consuming as it requires constant attention at an already very busy time — but we are privileged as a brand to have built resilience into our business, which is allowing us to take a step back and assess the situation before reacting. I am speaking often to peers, fellow business owners, and, of course, my team, to gather insights, strategize, and determine the route forward that will allow us to maintain our core brand values.

Is there anything you're not seeing discussed around tariffs and their impact on small businesses that you think is important for people to know?

Sharing authentic ingredients and flavors is one of the most powerful ways to explore the nuances of other cultures — it sparks curiosity, builds connection, and inspires empathy. These tariffs, which as of today are at least 160%, not only threaten our brand's prosperity, but rob Americans of an accessible way to connect with and appreciate cultures at a time when we need it most. Our success as a brand has proven that bold and diverse international flavors at affordable prices are what Americans want and that they are here to stay.

Sarah Stusek and the Proper Help Foundation have paid off over $10,000 of lunch debt in schools to date, but hit a stumbling block on this occasion.

Sean Keveney, the acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, sent a list of demands to Harvard that escalated the conflict.

Including spring fashion, outdoor furniture, and cleaning gadgets

Hernandez was serving 80 years to life with the possibility of parole in California for first-degree murder before he escaped in early December.

Donald Trump has made mass deportations one of his main priorities since assuming office.

• I've been tracking my latest order from Temu. It finally arrived — with no extra fees.
• But starting soon, because of the expected ending of a shipping loophole, there may be new fees.
• Temu and Shein have said they're raising prices.

Sure, the national hardship of price increases tied to tariffs is only getting started. But my personal journey of stressing about a recent Temu order? Phew, that's done! Our nation can breathe a sigh of relief.

To catch you up on my harrowing personal drama: The night before "Liberation Day," I placed a farewell order from Temu, the e-commerce marketplace that ships orders (mostly) directly from China.

Aside from enacting tariffs, Donald Trump has also said he would end the de minimis loophole that has allowed Temu, Shein, and others to ship orders with values under $800 directly from China to customers in the US without paying duty fees. That loophole has been the underpinning of Temu and Shein's astonishingly low prices on clothing and knickknacks.

The details about closing the de minimis rule have been a little unclear at times — not unlike the back-and-forth with Trump's tariffs. Initially, it was unclear when the yanking of the de minimis exception would go into effect, and I worried that when my order arrived, I might get slapped with a hefty $75 fee.

Now it seems that the de minimis loophole closes on May 2, which means that a few last shipments — including my own — have been able to sneak in under the wire.

I got three bubble machine/bubble wand items.

Temu and Shein have both put up statements on their websites addressing customers to warn them that price increases will hit soon.

What's kind of odd is that both sites, which are owned by different parent companies, have the same message, worded exactly the same — only the company name at the end is different. (Temu and Shein did not immediately reply to a question about how they ended up with the same statement.) The statements say:

Dear Customers,

Thank you for your continued support. Since we began serving U.S. shoppers, our goal has been simple: to offer great product at affordable prices while creating positive impact in the communities we serve.

Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustment starting April 25, 2025.

Until April 25, prices will stay the same, so you can shop now at today's rates. We've stocked up and stand ready to make sure your orders arrive smoothly during this time.

We're doing everything we can to keep prices low and minimize the impact on you. Our team is working extra hard to improve efficiency and stay true to our mission: to offer great product at affordable prices for everyone.

Thank you again for being part of the [TEMU/SHEIN] family.

With gratitude,
The [TEMU/SHEIN] Team

So, there we have it. I made out just fine. And if you order in the next few days, you might be fine, too. After that, well, you're screwed — either higher prices or a big duty tax bill, or even both!

Will I enjoy my bubble machine knowing it may be the last sweet, sweet duty-free shipment of bargain-basement plastic junk? Yes, yes I will. But will I feel good about pulling off this last-minute near-heist? No, no I won't. I don't feel good about any of this.

"For me, having a side hustle is what gives me confidence even in a tough job market," the recruiter told Newsweek.

The Oscars will honor stunt designers starting in 2028 — which may be too late to honor Ethan Hunt’s death-defying feats in ‘Mission: Impossible’

Including vibrant florals, pretty ruffles, and more

"It's normal to expect a bit of coffee in a house in this day and age," the woman said

From New York to Hollywood and everywhere in between, see what your favorite stars are up to

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The actress, who stars in the upcoming sequel 'Another Simple Favor,' spoke to PEOPLE for One Last Thing

The mission is set for a close encounter with the small main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20.

Abby Lee Miller's speaking out on Kelly Hyland’s cancer battle -- years after their wild "Dance Moms" fallout and legal chaos -- and she’s making it clear to us ... Kelly doesn’t need her support, 'cause she sure didn’t show up during her…