hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Adds citizenship status to federal IDs; sets CDL eligibility rules.
Senators Lankford (R-OK), Lummis (R-WY).
In committee, no Senate vote yet.
This bill proposes two main changes to federal identification standards. First, it requires new state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards, used for federal purposes, to indicate whether the holder is a U.S. citizen. Second, it sets new minimum requirements for commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to be federally recognized, specifically regarding the holder's immigration status. The bill was introduced by Senators Lankford and Lummis in the Senate and is currently awaiting review in committee.
Introduced Apr 27, 2026
The bill, S. 4398, was introduced in the Senate on April 27, 2026, by Senators Lankford and Lummis. It has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. For the bill to become law, it must first pass out of this committee, then be approved by a majority vote in the full Senate, then pass in the House of Representatives, and finally be signed by the President. There are no known dates for committee hearings or floor votes yet.
If this bill becomes law, any new driver's licenses or identification cards issued by states after 60 days from its enactment would need to state whether the holder is a U.S. citizen for federal agencies to accept them. Additionally, for a commercial driver's license (CDL) to be recognized by federal agencies, the issuing state would have to verify that the holder is a U.S. national, a lawful permanent resident, or a specific type of nonimmigrant with a valid visa. This means that individuals who are not citizens but reside in the U.S. may have new requirements to meet for their IDs and CDLs to be federally accepted.
Supporters Say
Supporters believe it enhances national security and verifies eligibility for federal purposes by requiring citizenship status on IDs.
Critics Say
Critics might argue it could lead to discrimination or create unnecessary hurdles for individuals, especially non-citizens.
Those in favor often highlight the importance of clearly identifying citizenship status on official documents for national security reasons and to ensure accurate identification for federal services and purposes. They may see it as a measure to strengthen the integrity of federal identification standards. Opponents, however, could raise concerns about privacy implications, potential for increased scrutiny or discrimination against non-citizens, and the administrative burden it places on states and individuals to implement and comply with these new requirements.