State Department orders nonprofit libraries to stop processing passport applications

Members of Congress push back, saying the change will disrupt access to passport services.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

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. The agency says federal law prohibits non-governmental organizations from collecting and retaining passport application fees. However, members of Congress from several states are pushing back, sending a letter to the Secretary of State asking him to extend the existing program until a permanent solution can be found.

Why it matters

The change is particularly disruptive in states where many public libraries are structured as nonprofit entities. Lawmakers warn that 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 and potential new voting rules that could require a passport or birth certificate to register. The loss of passport services could also force some libraries to lay off staff, cut programs, or even close their doors.

The details

The State Department began issuing cease and desist orders to not-for-profit libraries in late fall, informing them they were no longer authorized to participate in the Passport Acceptance Facility program as of February 13, 2026. The agency says federal law and regulations 'clearly prohibit non-governmental organizations' from collecting and retaining passport application fees. Government-run libraries are not impacted. The American Library Association estimates about 1,400 mostly non-profit public libraries nationwide could potentially be affected, or about 15% of all public libraries, depending on how many offer passport services.

  • The State Department began issuing cease and desist orders to not-for-profit libraries in late fall 2025.
  • The order went into effect on February 13, 2026.

The players

Cathleen Special

Executive director of the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut, where passport services were offered for 18 years but ceased in November 2025 after receiving the State Department's letter.

Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State

Madeleine Dean

Democratic U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania who has proposed bipartisan legislation to allow non-profit public libraries to continue serving as passport acceptance facilities.

John Joyce

Republican U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania who has proposed bipartisan legislation to allow non-profit public libraries to continue serving as passport acceptance facilities.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We still get calls daily seeking that service. Our community was so used to us offering this.”

— Cathleen Special, Executive director of the Otis Library (The Times-Tribune)

“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.”

— Members of Congress (The Times-Tribune)

“The State Department's interpretation of the law is nonsense.”

— Madeleine Dean, U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania (The Times-Tribune)

What’s next

Pennsylvania Reps. Madeleine Dean and John Joyce have proposed bipartisan legislation that would allow 501(c)(3) non-profit public libraries to continue to serve as passport acceptance facilities by amending the Passport Act of 1920. A similar companion bill is pending in the Senate.

The takeaway

This change in policy will significantly disrupt access to passport services, especially for working families, rural residents, and communities where public libraries are structured as non-profit entities. It highlights the need for a legislative solution to preserve this important public service provided by local libraries.