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United States – Passport Services Disappear From Libraries as State Department Ends Program
The U.S. State Department has ordered a nationwide change that will fundamentally alter where Americans can process passport applications, requiring a subset of public libraries to stop offering the service they have provided for decades. This move affects many communities that have depended on library passport acceptance facilities and is drawing bipartisan political pushback as citizens face reduced access to essential travel document services.
According to official passport program guidelines from the U.S. Department of State, passport applications can be filed at designated Passport Acceptance Facilities such as post offices, public libraries, and municipal offices. These facilities play a crucial role in helping the public apply for or renew U.S. passports in person before submitting them to Passport Services for processing.
However, in late 2025 and early 2026, the State Department began issuing cease‑and‑desist notices to certain nonprofit public libraries, notifying them they are no longer eligible to accept passport applications under the federal Passport Acceptance Facility Program. The ban took effect on February 13, 2026, stripping these libraries of a long‑standing community service.
Libraries Stand Down After Federal Directive
Many affected libraries are structured as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, which the State Department now says cannot lawfully collect and hold passport application fees. A department spokesperson confirmed that federal law and existing regulations prohibit non‑governmental organisations from serving as acceptance facilities because they handle fees on behalf of the government.
“This service has been a cornerstone for our community,” said Cathleen Special, executive director of the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut, which had offered passport processing for 18 years before ending the program in late 2025 after receiving a notice. “We still get calls daily seeking that service.”
The State Department has not publicly clarified why this interpretation has been enforced now after many years of nonprofit library participation. Officials estimate there are more than 7,500 passport acceptance facilities nationwide, and the number of affected libraries represents less than 1% of this network, though critics say the impact stretches far beyond that number.
Impact on Communities and Access to Passports
The American Library Association (ALA) estimates that roughly 1,400 mostly nonprofit libraries across the U.S. could be impacted by this change — about 15% of all public libraries that previously offered passport services.
In states such as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, lawmakers are raising alarm bells, warning that eliminating libraries from the passport acceptance network will disproportionately affect working families, rural residents, and others who rely on these accessible locations. Many communities now face longer travel distances and additional time off work to reach alternative passport locations such as post offices or county clerk’s offices.
Lawmakers from both major parties recently wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to delay the enforcement until Congress can enact a permanent legislative fix. They argue that libraries are uniquely positioned to serve residents with barriers to travel document access.
Bipartisan Bills Seek to Restore Library Services
In response to the policy change, Pennsylvania Representatives Madeleine Dean (D) and John Joyce (R) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would amend the Passport Act of 1920, explicitly allowing 501(c)(3) nonprofit libraries to continue operating as passport acceptance facilities. A companion bill has also been proposed in the U.S. Senate.
Supporters of the proposed legislation argue that nonprofit libraries — historically trusted and widely used in local communities — provide essential public service functions that extend beyond books. They contend that maintaining passport services at these locations ensures equitable access to travel documentation for all citizens.
Opposition to the legislative fix is limited, though the White House and State Department have not signaled a definitive stance on whether they will support changes to the Passport Act. Without legislative intervention, many libraries will remain excluded from the program.
Government’s Position and Public Access Assurances
Despite concerns, the State Department has emphasized that most Americans will still have passport access within reasonable distance. The agency claims that 99% of the U.S. population lives within 20 miles of a passport processing site, including post offices and government‑run libraries that remain authorised acceptance facilities.
The government also stated it will seek new eligible partners where removal of ineligible library facilities might affect local service coverage. However, library officials argue that alternative partners often do not offer the same convenient hours, community‑centric environments, or specialized assistance that libraries have provided.
Economic and Operational Consequences for Libraries
For many nonprofit libraries, passport processing fees have become an important revenue source that supports staffing, programming, and operational costs. With the loss of this service, some librarians warn of potential layoffs, reduced programming, and even threats to library sustainability.
Public libraries have long been community hubs, offering accessible services including free computer use, educational programmes, and now passport applications. The abrupt removal of this service not only affects travellers but also challenges libraries’ broader missions to serve their communities.
Looking Ahead
As the nation adjusts to this policy shift, Americans seeking passports may need to rely more heavily on post offices, county offices, and other authorised acceptance facilities. Whether bipartisan legislation will pass to restore libraries’ roles in the passport system remains uncertain, underscoring broader tensions between federal regulation and community‑based public services.
For now, the change is reshaping how many citizens access travel documentation and spotlighting the long‑standing importance of libraries not just as cultural institutions but as critical points of access for government services across the United States.
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