Quick answer: No. A government-issued photo ID, such as a state-issued ID card, is sufficient for domestic air travel. In other words, using your passport as a government-issued photo ID is possible but not mandatory. Your state-issued driver's license, for instance, is sufficient to board your domestic flight.

In 2023, a passport was not strictly required for domestic flights in the United States, as the Department of Homeland Security had extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline. However, looking forward to 2026, the rules have shifted. As of May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older needs a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of identification (such as a passport, passport card, or Global Entry card) to fly within the United States. While your standard driver's license was sufficient for most of 2023 and 2024, by 2026, if your license does not have the "star" marking indicating REAL ID compliance, you must use a passport or an alternative federal ID to pass through TSA checkpoints. Children under 18 still do not typically require identification when traveling with a companion on domestic flights, but adults must ensure their state-issued ID meets the current federal security standards to avoid being turned away at the gate.