Joint Base San Antonio has cranked up security and slowed down commutes, announcing on Sunday that it is now running 100 percent identification checks at all installation gates and suspending the base’s Trusted Traveler program. Every person entering a JBSA location must present valid identification, and the change is already stretching lines during peak drive times.
As reported by News4SanAntonio, the base said in a statement that “JBSA has increased force protection activities,” and officials have not put an end date on the stricter gate checks. That report noted the heaviest backups at the I-35 entrance to the San Antonio Military Medical Center and at the military entrance for Lackland AFB.
Why JBSA Tightened Gate Access
Similar suspensions of Trusted Traveler and blanket ID checks were ordered at JBSA and other installations after high-profile New Year’s Day attacks in 2025, when the Pentagon directed increased force-protection measures, according to The Texas Tribune. Military officials say it is usually shifts in the force-protection environment, not routine policy tweaks, that trigger temporary gate restrictions like this.
Where Traffic Is Backing Up
Commuters should brace for slower processing at major entry points, especially the I-35 gate by SAMMC and Lackland’s military entrance, where News4SanAntonio reported longer wait times. Security personnel are checking every vehicle and will ask all occupants 18 and older to present Department of Defense or state-issued identification for scanning, so drivers are urged to have IDs ready before they reach the gate shack.
How Visitors Can Dodge the Worst of the Lines
If you do not have a DoD credential, you will need to stop at a base Visitor Control Center and obtain a visitor pass before entering an installation. Joint Base San Antonio notes that its visitor centers prioritize patients and contractors, can issue temporary passes, and provide contact numbers for the Base Defense Operations Centers. The base also asks service members and civilians to report suspicious activity to local Security Forces…