Fletcher joins lawmakers' call for U.S. Passport Agency 'to reexamine their current processes' to ease passport backlog

Even the State Department is experiencing a staff shortage and that is causing a backlog in the processing of passport applications.

If you were planning a vacation to another country, you’re going to want to iron out all of the logistics before doing so with the State Department experiencing an unprecedented backlog with passports.

Lawmakers are hoping to remedy the situation and U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) tweeted that she had asked the department to look into trying to remedy their process.

“I joined 51 of my colleagues in calling on the U.S. Passport Agency to reexamine their current processes and help families across the country,” she wrote.

The proposed bill would ensure that the agency’s processing time be limited to six to eight weeks for applications and two to three weeks for expedited applications.

The Department of State is currently warning Americans to expect a wait time of almost four months for their passports.

In a recent briefing last week, U.S. Department of State deputy assistant secretary for passport services Rachel Arndt told reporters that the wait time for new and renewal routine passport applications currently ranges from 12 to 18 weeks.

“This means people who submit new passport applications right now will not get their new passport until well into the fall,” she wrote. "Last-minute passport appointments are extremely limited. U.S. citizens who wish to travel overseas this summer and do not currently have a passport may need to make alternate travel plans.”

Democratic Reps. Gerry Connolly (Va.) told The Hill that it wasn’t fair for citizens to be left waiting for that long of a time period.

“Too many of our constituents are left in limbo, not sure if they will receive their passport in time,” Connolly said. “Some don’t even know the status of their application, and others have been forced to forego travel altogether. While I appreciate the efforts of State Department employees as they work to reduce this backlog, the need for substantial improvement remains.” 

The U.S. House of Representatives introduced the bipartisan Passport Backlog Elimination Act to try and remedy the waiting period last week.