WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is leading a bipartisan, bicameral push urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to delay the Trump administration’s decision to bar local libraries from serving as passport acceptance facilities, warning the move could trigger job losses, service disruptions, and reduced access for millions of Americans.
In a letter sent Monday, Fetterman joined U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, and lawmakers from both parties and multiple states in calling for an extension of the program beyond a February 13 deadline while Congress works on a permanent fix.
“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,” the lawmakers wrote. “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.”
Under the Trump administration’s policy shift, the State Department ruled that 501(c)(3) nonprofit libraries are ineligible to operate as passport acceptance facilities under federal law, despite doing so for years — in some cases decades. Libraries were notified of the change in November and given until February 13 to cease passport services.
Lawmakers said the decision disproportionately affects states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, and New Jersey, where many public libraries are structured as nonprofit entities due to historical precedent. For residents in rural areas, libraries are often the closest — and sometimes only — place to apply for a passport.
“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,” the letter stated. “Without an extension, libraries will be forced to lay off employees, cut essential programs for children and families, or close their doors entirely.”
The lawmakers urged Rubio to extend the program through the end of 2026 to allow libraries time to prepare and to give Congress a chance to act. Fetterman introduced the bipartisan Community Passport Services Access Act on January 29, which would allow nonprofit public libraries to continue operating as passport acceptance facilities. A companion bill is pending in the House.
The letter pointed to real-world impacts already looming. In Perry County, Pennsylvania, the Marysville-Rye Library is one of only two passport acceptance facilities serving the county and one of at least 18 Pennsylvania libraries ordered to halt services. Its closure would eliminate more than 80 percent of local passport appointment availability, leaving the county courthouse as the sole option.
In New York, lawmakers noted that the Brooklyn Public Library alone has processed more than 300,000 passports over the years, warning that the loss of library-based services would create significant gaps as demand rises due to Real ID requirements.
The letter also questioned why the State Department’s interpretation of federal law went unenforced for decades and why the February deadline could not be adjusted given the potential consequences.
The lawmakers requested a response from Rubio by February 10 and asked for a written justification should the State Department reject the extension request.
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