A federal order has abruptly ended passport application services at hundreds of public libraries across the United States. The U.S. State Department mandated that all nonprofit libraries cease operating as Passport Acceptance Facilities effective February 13, 2026.
Officials cite a long-standing federal regulation that prohibits nongovernmental organizations from handling application fees. This enforcement disrupts a service many libraries have provided for nearly twenty years, creating immediate concerns over public access and library funding.
Policy Enforcement Disrupts Longstanding Community Service
Libraries received formal cease-and-desist notices from the State Department. The directive specifically targets facilities operating under 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Government-run libraries, such as those within municipal or county systems, can continue offering passport services.
The American Library Association estimates roughly 1,400 public libraries are affected. That represents about fifteen percent of all public libraries in the country. These locations often served as critical access points in communities with limited government offices.
“This decision is based on the application of federal regulations that have been in place for some time,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The regulations clearly state that nongovernmental entities cannot manage the financial transactions associated with passport applications.”
For many residents, their local library was the most convenient Passport Acceptance Facility. Libraries frequently offered evening and weekend appointments unavailable at post offices or clerks of court. Their removal from the program forces applicants to seek alternatives, potentially involving longer travel and fewer available time slots.
Financial and Access Impacts Hit Communities
The consequences extend beyond inconvenience. Libraries retained a portion of the application execution fee as revenue. For some smaller branches, this income constituted up to twelve percent of their annual operating budgets.
Losing this funding stream threatens staffing levels and community programs. It creates an unexpected financial gap as libraries already navigate tight budgets. The policy shift also arrives during a period of record-high demand for passports.
More than 23.3 million passport applications were processed in the last fiscal year. The State Department maintains a network of over 7,500 acceptance facilities nationwide. Officials assert most Americans still live within twenty miles of an active site.
Critics argue geographic proximity does not equate to true accessibility. Wait times for appointments at remaining locations are expected to increase significantly. The change particularly burdens working families, seniors, and residents in rural areas who relied on their local library’s flexible hours.
This federal state department order has created immediate operational challenges. Library directors are now scrambling to adjust their service models and budgets mid-year.
Bipartisan Legislative Response Emerges
In direct response to the change, bipartisan lawmakers have proposed a legislative fix. Pennsylvania Representatives Madeleine Dean, a Democrat, and John Joyce, a Republican, introduced a bill in the House to amend the Passport Act of 1920.
Their legislation would explicitly allow qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit libraries to serve as acceptance facilities. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate, signaling a coordinated push to reverse the department order ends.
“Our public libraries are trusted community hubs that have provided this service efficiently and securely for years,” Representative Dean stated. “This sudden reversal disrupts a vital public service without a clear benefit to security or efficiency.”
The legislative path forward remains uncertain. It would require both congressional approval and subsequent State Department implementation. In the interim, travelers must use other authorized facilities like post offices, county clerk offices, and some courthouses.
Some libraries are helping patrons navigate the new reality by providing information on alternative locations. They are directing community members to the State Department’s online search tool for finding the nearest open passport services site.
The situation highlights the evolving role of public libraries as multifunctional community centers. Beyond lending books, many have become essential hubs for government services, digital access, and now, international travel documentation. The outcome of this policy dispute will signal how federal agencies adapt to that modern reality.