US to Expand Passport Revocations for Parents Owing Child Support

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Trump administration plans to expand and step up enforcement of a 30-year-old law that allows the federal government to revoke American passports of parents who owe significant child support payments. Starting soon, the State Department will begin revoking passports on its own initiative based on data shared by the Health and Human Services Department, targeting those who owe more than $100,000 in past-due child support.

Why it matters

This policy change aims to compel parents who are delinquent on child support payments to fulfill their financial obligations to their children. Proponents argue it will help collect millions in overdue child support, while critics say it unfairly punishes parents and could make it harder for them to find work to make payments.

The details

Under the 1996 federal legislation, passport revocations for unpaid child support of more than $2,500 have been permitted, but the State Department had previously only acted when someone applied to renew their travel document. Now, the department will proactively revoke passports based on data from the Health and Human Services Department. The first group targeted will be those owing more than $100,000, with fewer than 500 people meeting that threshold initially.

• The new policy will go into effect soon, according to officials.
• The State Department may lower the threshold for passport revocation in the future, which could affect thousands more people.

What’s next

The State Department plans to initially target those owing more than $100,000 in child support, with fewer than 500 people meeting that threshold. The department may lower the threshold in the future, which could affect thousands more people.