WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Trump administration banning local libraries as passport acceptance facilities, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) led his colleagues in a bipartisan and bicameral letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the secretary to extend the existing program while Congress works to enact a permanent solution. The letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and U.S. Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA-13), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08).
“In a time when demand for passports is surging, libraries are among the most accessible passport acceptance facilities, particularly for working families and rural residents,” wrote the members of Congress. “This abrupt determination, issued with little notice or explanation, has placed libraries, their employees, and the communities they serve in an untenable position through no fault of their own.”
In November, 501(c)(3) nonprofit libraries were notified by the State Department that the libraries’ status rendered them ineligible to operate as passport acceptance facilities under federal law, despite Americans using these locations for many years. For many Pennsylvanians, especially in rural communities, these libraries are often the most accessible—and sometimes the only—passport acceptance facilities. Additionally, across states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, and New Jersey, many public libraries are structured as nonprofit entities due to historical precedent, making this action especially disruptive.
“At some libraries, the February 13 deadline all but guarantees immediate staff reductions, putting dedicated public servants and their families at risk of losing their jobs, income, and healthcare overnight. Without an extension, libraries will be forced to lay off employees, cut essential programs for children and families, or close their doors entirely. Granting this extension would not resolve the issue permanently, but it would prevent irreversible harm while Congress and the State Department work toward a responsible, durable solution,” continued the members.
Allowing an extension past the February 13 deadline until the end of the year would provide time for these libraries to adequately prepare for change. It would also allow time for passage of a legislative solution, like Senator Fetterman’s bipartisan and bicameral Community Passport Services Access Act, to prevent any further harm to public libraries and the communities they serve. The senator introduced this bill on January 29, 2026, to allow 501(c)(3) non-profit public libraries to continue operating as passport acceptance facilities. View the full text of the bill here.
Read the full text of the letter below and here.
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Dear Secretary Rubio:
We write to urge immediate action regarding the status of dozens of nonprofit libraries across the United States that were recently informed they must cease accepting passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, effective February 13, 2026. In a time when demand for passports is surging, libraries are among the most accessible passport acceptance facilities, particularly for working families and rural residents. This abrupt determination, issued with little notice or explanation, has placed libraries, their employees, and the communities they serve in an untenable position through no fault of their own. We respectfully request an extension of the February 13 deadline through the remainder of the calendar year to prevent imminent harm and to allow libraries and communities the time needed to adapt.
In November 2025, libraries that have operated as passport acceptance facilities for years—often decades—were informed that, due to an oversight in the State Department mechanism, their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status rendered them ineligible under federal law. This revelation was devastating to institutions that had been repeatedly reviewed, certified, and reauthorized by the State Department in good standing. Across states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, and New Jersey, many public libraries are structured as nonprofit entities due to historical precedent, making this action especially disruptive.
The State Department has cited 22 U.S.C. 214(a)(1) and 22 C.F.R. 51.51(b) as the basis for this decision, yet it remains unclear how this interpretation of the provision went unenforced for decades or why the February 13 deadline cannot be adjusted given the gravity of the consequences. While we appreciate the prior extension from December 2025 to February 13, 2026, such a short window is insufficient for libraries to replace lost revenue, for staff to plan for their livelihoods, or for communities to establish alternative passport services. We thank the State Department for their assistance with and endorsement of pending legislation in the House (H.R. 6997) and Senate (S. 3733) to address this issue. But, as Congress moves forward on a legislative solution to this challenge, it is extremely unlikely such legislation will be passed in time to avert immediate damage.
For many communities across the country, libraries are the most accessible—and sometimes the only—passport acceptance facilities. Their loss will force residents to travel long distances, take unpaid time off work, or forgo access altogether, particularly as demand for passports surges due to Real ID requirements. In Perry County, Pennsylvania, for example, Marysville-Rye Library is one of only two passport acceptance facilities serving the entire county. It is also one of 18 libraries in PA so far that have been directed to cease all passport acceptance services effective February 13. This decision eliminates more than 80 percent of local passport appointment availability in Perry County, leaving the courthouse as the sole remaining option, with limited hours and accessibility. In New York, Brooklyn Public Library has issued over 300,000 passports through its services alone over the last years; failure to extend this deadline will leave massive gaps in passport services.
Equally urgent is the human toll. Passport execution fees represent a substantial portion (up to 67%) of operating budgets for many libraries and directly support full-time staff salaries and health insurance. At some libraries, the February 13 deadline all but guarantees immediate staff reductions, putting dedicated public servants and their families at risk of losing their jobs, income, and healthcare overnight. Without an extension, libraries will be forced to lay off employees, cut essential programs for children and families, or close their doors entirely. Granting this extension would not resolve the issue permanently, but it would prevent irreversible harm while Congress and the State Department work toward a responsible, durable solution. We respectfully request a response to our request for an extension by February 10th, and a written justification for any rejection, given the circumstances at hand. Thank you for your leadership and your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
