In brief
The U.S. State Department has issued cease and desist orders to numerous public libraries nationwide, halting their processing of passport applications, a service that has been available for years and is critical for many communities. The American Library Association estimates around 1,400 libraries could be impacted by this decision, prompting bipartisan pushback from lawmakers advocating for the continuation of these essential services. The affected libraries, particularly non-profit ones, could face significant operational challenges as they could lose vital funding from passport processing fees.
NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. State Department has ordered specific public libraries across the nation to stop processing passport applications, interrupting a longtime service that communities have relied upon and that has operated seamlessly for many years. The department issued cease and desist orders to non-profit libraries late last fall, stating they are no longer authorized to participate in the Passport Acceptance Facility program as of Friday.Cathleen Special, the executive director of the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut, shared that the library provided passport services for 18 years before halting operations in November after receiving the order. "We still get calls daily seeking that service," she stated. "Our community was so used to us offering this." A department spokesperson explained that the order was due to federal law prohibiting non-governmental organizations from collecting and keeping application fees, with government-run libraries remaining unaffected.Despite this, the spokesperson did not clarify the reasons behind this sudden policy enforcement or the total number of libraries affected. The department maintains that there are over 7,500 acceptance facilities nationwide and that the libraries ineligible for the program constitute less than 1% of the entire network.According to the American Library Association, approximately 1,400 predominantly non-profit public libraries could be affected—roughly 15% of all libraries, depending on their capacity to offer passport services. In response, bipartisan lawmakers from states like Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland are advocating for a temporary extension of the program until a permanent solution can be implemented. They stressed the importance of these libraries, especially as demand for passports surges.The representatives' letter contended that citizens would have to travel farther and take unpaid time off work to access passport services if libraries can no longer provide them. They highlighted increased passport needs related to new voting regulations and fears of immigration enforcement.Amendments to the Passport Act of 1920 have been proposed, which would allow nonprofit public libraries to continue as passport acceptance facilities. Lawmakers argue that discontinuing this service would exacerbate the challenges faced by working families and rural residents, creating a heavier load for already taxed facilities like post offices.The State Department indicated it would explore new eligible partners if the loss of libraries impacts passport services. However, many, including Cathleen Special, voiced concerns about the ability of the local post office to manage the additional demand, emphasizing the vital role libraries played in assisting applicants, particularly those with language barriers and families needing child care during the application process.
