WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting information from the State Department concerning the extraordinary challenges to its current ability to process passport applications as millions of Americans make arrangements to travel abroad this summer. The Chairman’s letter was prompted by mounting reports in recent weeks of unprecedented delays in passport processing, impacting thousands of individuals and businesses in the Chairman’s home state of New Jersey and across the United States.
“I urge the Department of State to redouble efforts to surge resources to reduce current processing times and to assure that American citizens do not face similar occurrences in the future,” Menendez wrote, listing a series of questions on the specific actions the Department is taking to resolve bottlenecks in the system. “As the volume of applications rise, it is imperative that the Department promptly prioritizes solving the backlog of applications and enabling passport services to resume operating efficiently.”
The Chairman also raised concerns that the delays in passport renewals have not only upended many Americans’ personal and professional plans, but have also prevented travel for family and medical emergencies. “Although I understand and appreciate the ‘perfect storm’ of events, many related to the COVID pandemic, that created this situation, the Department must prioritize resolving this matter, and utilize all appropriate resources to address the current delays in processing passport applications,” added Menendez.
Find a copy of the letter HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Blinken,
I am deeply concerned about mounting reports in recent weeks of unprecedented delays in passport processing by the Department of State, affecting thousands of American citizens and businesses. Although I understand and appreciate the “perfect storm” of events, many related to the COVID pandemic, that created this situation, the Department must prioritize resolving this matter, and utilize all appropriate resources to address the current delays in processing passport applications. Too many Americans, including many of my constituents, are waiting weeks or months to get their passports, often upending personal and professional plans. In some dire cases, people have not been able to travel for family or medical emergencies.
I urge the Department of State to redouble efforts to surge resources to reduce current processing times and to assure that American citizens do not face similar occurrences in the future. As the volume of applications rise, it is imperative that the Department promptly prioritizes solving the backlog of applications and enabling passport services to resume operating efficiently. As this issue is affecting Americans across the country, I stand ready to work with the Department to help ease this burden.
I therefore request responses to the following questions:
Sincerely,
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