<p>Americans seeking to renew their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/passport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passports</a> ahead of their planned summer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vacation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel</a> are experiencing shockingly long wait times.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/state-department" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State Department</a> has been able to process routine applications between 10 weeks and 13 weeks after their submissions, while expedited applications currently take between 7 weeks and 9 weeks, according to a <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/passports/passport-processing-updates.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The office warned that the State Department may also take as many as 2 weeks to receive mailed applications and another 2 weeks for the completed passport to be mailed back to the holder.</p>
<p>Employees tasked with handling passport applications are witnessing “unprecedented demand” after lockdown measures and vaccine mandates across the world limited the scope of international travel. “We are aggressively recruiting and hiring across our passport agencies and centers. Our passport team members nationwide contribute tens of thousands of hours of overtime a month to issue the millions of passports sought by traveling Americans,” the Bureau of Consular Affairs said. “We have opened a satellite office to help process the large number of applications we are receiving.&#8221;</p>
<p>Passport application rates are generally highest in the months before summer travel.</p>
<p>American travel spending rose 9% between February 2022 and February 2023, according to <a href="https://www.ustravel.org/research/monthly-travel-data-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the United States Travel Association, while spending levels between February 2019 and February 2023 increased 5%, implying that expenditures reached amounts previously seen before the lockdown-induced recession. Overseas visitations, on the other hand, were 31% below levels recorded in February 2019, marking a slight improvement from the previous month.</p>
<p>The State Department recently concluded a <a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew-online.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test</a> of an online passport renewal process and is working to implement improvements before a nationwide rollout sometime this year. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month that his agency is receiving 500,000 new passport applications each week, marking an increase of 30% to 40% from rates seen last year.</p>
<p>“We were authorizing overtime, we’ve opened satellite offices, we’re organizing cores at the headquarters to assist in processing, processing times,” Blinken <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/23/politics/blinken-state-department-passport-delays/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> members of the House Appropriations Committee. “I think it’s really important that we be as clear and transparent as possible with people who are looking for passports to know what they can expect.”</p>
<p>The lockdown-induced recession caused a labor shortage in both the public and private sectors, worsening inflation as employers struggle to operate and increase pay to remain competitive in the job market. President Joe Biden recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-employees-get-pay-boost-after-biden-executive-order" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> an overall pay raise of 4.1% for some 2.1 million federal employees as well as an average 0.5% locality-based pay raise.</p>
<p>The federal government spent approximately $215 billion in fiscal year 2016 compensating federal civilian employees, according to a <a href="https://www.cbo.gov/publication/52637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Congressional Budget Office. Federal employees usually receive periodic wage increases on the basis of factors such as performance, longevity, and changes in private sector pay.</p>
<p>Similar pressures have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/delta-approves-34-pay-raise-for-pilots-as-shortages-continue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">impacted</a> airlines as commercial pilots retired amid the slowdown in air travel demand. American carriers presently lack some 12,000 pilots, even as 14,000 pilots will be forced to leave the workforce over the next five years because of a federal law mandating that they retire by 65 years old, according to a <a href="https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2021/mar/after-covid-19-aviation-faces-a-pilot-shortage.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> by Oliver Wyman.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Passport Renewal Delays Are Shockingly Long Ahead Of Summer Travel

CONTINUE READING

Bud Light Sales Continue To Plummet, May Soon Lose Status As Number-One Beer

‘Profoundly Christian’: Former Head Of Anglican Church Presses British Government To Endorse Assisted Suicide

Ben Shapiro Reacts To Debt Limit Deal, Hits Both Democrats And Republicans Over Spending Habits

‘The Chosen’ Defends Pride Flag Spotted On Set: ‘Let The Show Speak For Itself’

Chick-Fil-A Faces Backlash As Their Diversity Efforts Resurface, Other Woke Brands Take Beating

North Korea Sentenced Two-Year-Old To Life In Prison After Family Caught With Bible: State Department

News

Air Travel

Antony Blinken

Passport

State Department

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Passport Renewal Delays Are Shockingly Long Ahead Of Summer Travel