The U.S. State Department has ordered certain public libraries nationwide to cease processing passport applications, disrupting a long-standing service that librarians say their communities have come to rely on and that has run smoothly for years.

Democratic and Republican members of Congress from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Maryland are pushing back, sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio this month asking him to extend the existing program until Congress finds a permanent solution.

The lawmakers’ letter said people will have to travel long distances, take unpaid time off from work or forgo getting a passport when demand is surging due to Real ID requirements. If Republicans in Congress impose strict new voting rules, citizens could need their passport or birth certificate to register. People fearing immigration agents are also increasingly carrying passports to confirm their citizenship.

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
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    21 hours ago

    How long until a Trump Passport option is floated? Pay $100,000 and you get overnight courier delivery with no background or records checks?

    • rose56@lemmy.zip
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      19 hours ago

      How long until the USA citizens finally wake up? And Trump goes away once for all?

      • IronBird@lemmy.world
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        9 hours ago

        a growing number of americans are waking up (this next crash is going to be a big one), but trump will never see a day behind bars.

        best case scenario he dies in an as embarrassingly public way as possible, tripping down the stairs of AF1 or shitting himself to death

        • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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          9 hours ago

          Could also be lynched or otherwise killed by his own security or those around him. He is a distinctly unpleasant person and would probably be on a short list if the cheques start bouncing or the money becomes worth less than monopoly money.