In the twenty years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the absence of enforcement of the REAL ID Act has not increased the vulnerability of domestic flights to terrorism. Despite federal and state efforts, REAL ID has not been implemented at scale, and public demand for it appears minimal. Scott Shackford, writing for Reason, argues that when Congress next debates REAL ID, it should repeal the requirement entirely, noting that "Even COVID-19 Couldn't Kill REAL ID."

The post-9/11 era also saw a rise in support among some on the right and hawkish liberals for the concept of an American Empire, intended to protect the U.S. from terrorism, control rogue nations, and secure global commerce. However, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan worsened during the middle years of the last decade, this jingoism fell out of favor, leaving only a shrinking core of committed neoconservatives to advocate for empire, according to John Payne.

Public memory of 9/11 is fading, with predictions that within a decade, 9/11 memorials will be passed by much like World War I cenotaphs in town squares. Michael Bloom reflects that the strength America showed in the immediate aftermath of the attacks did not stem from government expansion or increased surveillance but from other, less centralized forces.

These retrospectives underscore ongoing debates about national security, government authority, and America's role on the world stage.

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