How much would Real ID cost?
The short answers is that at this point, no one really knows. Existing technology standards, state administrative structures, and laws within the different states vary widely, with the result that Real ID would prove even more expensive for some states than for others, and no one has actually performed a comprehensive national study of those costs. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially estimated that nationwide implementation would cost over $23 billion, roughly in line with estimates from independent groups like the National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislators. But in its final regulations for implementation, published January 11, 2008, DHS significantly scaled back its cost estimate, from $23 billion to $9.9 billion. The new estimate is broken down roughly as follows: $3.9 billion – costs to the states $5.8 billion – costs to invididuals $0.2 billion – costs to federal government and private sector $9.9 billion – TOTAL However, a close loo
