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.
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.
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;
Passport application rates are generally highest in the months before summer travel.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.

8FB62AF9-2C5A-4142-AB89-0ACB0716840E_1_201_a

Passport Renewal Delays Are Shockingly Long Ahead Of Summer Travel

Passport Renewal Backlog Is Shockingly Huge Ahead Of Summer Travel

Air Travel

Antony Blinken

Passport

State Department

U.S.

A new study by UCLA’s School of Law Williams Institute estimated how many “nonbinary LGBTQ adults” living in the United States &#8220;might request&#8221; a “Gender-X” marking on their U.S. passports.
The report <a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/x-gender-markers-passports/">noted</a>, “We estimate that 1.4% of the nonbinary LGBTQ population in the U.S., or 16,700 people, may request passports with an X gender marker each year. This estimate is based upon current demand for X gender markers on driver’s licenses in states which allow such an option.”
The report explained, “the average number of driver’s licenses with X gender markers issued per year in the 18 states with available data (13,804) was multiplied by 0.425 to create an estimate of how many passports with X gender markers may be requested and issued per year in these states (5,866).”
This estimate was then “divided by the total population of nonbinary LGBTQ people ages 18-60 estimated to live in these states, to create an estimated percentage of nonbinary LGBTQ people who would request passports with an X gender marker per year (1.37%).”
The percentage was multiplied by the total estimated amount “of nonbinary LGBTQ people ages 18-60 in the United States (1,219,000), to create an estimate of the number of passports with X gender markers that may be requested or issued per year (16,700).”
The report noted that it includes several assumptions when determining the estimated amount. It also pointed out how it did not consider any changes in desire for the “X” marker over the future, noting how the younger demographic is more likely to “identify as nonbinary” than people who are older. 
The Hill <a href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/3258443-nearly-17000-americans-may-request-gender-x-passport-this-year/">reported</a> that 21 states and the District of Columbia currently permit residents to choose an ‘X’ gender marker on driver&#8217;s licenses.
As The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-rolls-out-gender-neutral-passports-americans-can-now-identify-as-x">reported</a> last week, starting this month, U.S. citizens can select “X” as their gender on their passport instead of choosing male or female.
Jessica Stern, U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/gender-neutral-x-passports-will-available-april-rcna22292">stated</a> that humans “do not always fit within a male or female category around the world,” during her announcement about the rollout of the “X” addition.
“The addition of a third gender marker propels the U.S. forward toward ensuring that our administrative systems account for the diversity of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics among U.S. citizens,” she added.
In June of last year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a href="https://www.state.gov/proposing-changes-to-the-departments-policies-on-gender-on-u-s-passports-and-consular-reports-of-birth-abroad/">discussed</a> changes to policy, saying the State Department “will be taking further steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender or sex, by beginning the process of updating our procedures for the issuance of U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).”
“Most immediately, we will be updating our procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender as ‘M&#8217; or ‘F’ and will no longer require medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents.  The Department has begun moving towards adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a passport or CRBA,” he added.
The TSA is also <a href="https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/3258443-nearly-17000-americans-may-request-gender-x-passport-this-year/">updating</a> its policy for gender markers on its &#8220;TSA PreCheck&#8221; system. 
The TSA <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/transgender-passengers">stated</a>, “Beginning in April 2022, a TSA PreCheck® applicant can select the gender they would like saved in their TSA PreCheck® record simply by selecting ‘M’ or ‘F’ during the enrollment / renewal process. The gender selected does not need to match the gender on supporting documentation, such as birth certificate, passport, or state-issued ID.” 
“TSA PreCheck® is also working to include an ‘X’ gender marker option on its application to ensure the TSA PreCheck® program accurately reflects traveler gender and keeps pace with identity documents that offer the ‘X’ gender marker option.  TSA expects this update to be complete by the end of this year,” it added. 
The move comes as the Biden administration continues to push for more policies promoting transgenderism. 
Last week, on the “Transgender Day of Visibility,” the Biden administration <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equality-and-visibility-for-transgender-americans/">released</a> a statement saying: 
<blockquote>
Every American deserves the freedom to be themselves. But far too many transgender Americans still face systemic barriers, discrimination, and acts of violence. Today, the Administration once again condemns the proliferation of dangerous anti-transgender legislative attacks that have been introduced and passed in state legislatures around the country. 
</blockquote>

Study: Estimated 1.4% ‘Nonbinary LGBTQ Adults’ In U.S. Might Request ‘Gender-X’ On Passports

LGBTQ

nonbinary

Come April, U.S. citizens can choose “X” as their gender on their passport instead of either male or female, after the Biden administration pushed earlier this year for the integration of gender ideology into documentation for international travel. 
Jessica Stern, U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/gender-neutral-x-passports-will-available-april-rcna22292">stated</a> that humans &#8220;do not always fit within a male or female category around the world,” during her announcement about the rollout of the “X” addition. 
&#8220;The addition of a third gender marker propels the U.S. forward toward ensuring that our administrative systems account for the diversity of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics among U.S. citizens,” she added. 
Stern claimed that this move would serve to recognize the “true identity of the passport holder.” 
The move to make “gender neutral” passports was first announced back in June 2021 by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. At the time he said that the State Department would add another “gender marker” and allow people to choose whether they were marked male or female despite medical documentation.
“Most immediately, we will be updating our procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender as ‘M’ or ‘F’ and will no longer require medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents,” Blinken <a href="https://www.state.gov/proposing-changes-to-the-departments-policies-on-gender-on-u-s-passports-and-consular-reports-of-birth-abroad/">said</a>. 
The Transportation Security Administration <a href="https://www.axios.com/us-gender-neutral-x-passports-a5374c37-5bbe-4696-8df5-54e351086ce4.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_content=politics-trans">will</a> also be implementing policy changes to move its protocols in line with the addition of the “X” passport. 
These moves include changing the “current, gender-based system” for pat-downs and other screening and taking away “gender considerations when validating a traveler’s ID at airport security checkpoints,” according to Axios. 
The Biden administration’s integration of transgender ideology into international travel comes as Biden recognizes “Transgender Day of Visibility” on Thursday, which included a special focus on transgender children. 
In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equality-and-visibility-for-transgender-americans/">statement</a>, Biden vowed that his administration would provide support and “resources for transgender kids and their families.”
This support included backing “gender affirming care” on the “mental health” of children. He also explained that he had the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health develop a <a href="https://opa.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2022-03/gender-affirming-care-young-people-march-2022.pdf">resource</a> to detail the importance of “gender affirming care.”
So-called gender affirming care includes things like puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for children and adolescents. The “surgeries,” which include “creat[ing] male typical chest shape” on females and “surgery” on male and female reproductive organs and genitalia, are to be used on a “case- by-case in adolescence,” according to the administration. 
The statement from the White House also condemned states that have passed bills outlawing transgender surgery and hormone blockers for minors.
&#8220;The President has consistently made clear that legislative attacks against transgender youth are un-American, and are bullying disguised as legislation,&#8221; the statement added.

Passport Rules Relaxed In Advance Of Summer Travel Season

Biden Admin Rolls Out ‘Gender Neutral’ Passports, Americans Can Now Identify As ‘X’

Gender

Transgender

On Wednesday, The Associated Press reported that the federal government would issue its first passport with an “X” gender marker for people who refused to identify themselves as male or female.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WASHINGTON (AP) — US official: US to issue its first passport with an &#39;X&#39; gender marker for those who don&#39;t identify as male or female.
&mdash; Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZekeJMiller/status/1453344704444182530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) slammed the Biden administration and the State Department for their priorities, tweeting, “US issues first passport with ‘X’ gender marker. Great news for Americans still stuck in Afghanistan.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
US issues first passport with ‘X’ gender marker.
Great news for Americans still stuck in Afghanistan.<a href="https://t.co/O7tgDxDrgB">https://t.co/O7tgDxDrgB</a>
&mdash; Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1453367343602675715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On September 1, Crenshaw slammed President Biden’s State Department, headed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for their passivity regarding rescuing trapped Americans out of Afghanistan. Crenshaw wrote, “America: right now there is a private effort to get a plane of US citizens and allies out of Afghanistan. They need @SecBlinken to help get clearance to land in a nearby country. Biden’s State Department is refusing to actively assist. Their response: ‘just tell them to ask.’”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
America: right now there is a private effort to get a plane of US citizens and allies out of Afghanistan. They need <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecBlinken</a> to help get clearance to land in a nearby country.
Biden’s State Department is refusing to actively assist. 
Their response: “just tell them to ask.”
&mdash; Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1433249386784493568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“There are Americans behind enemy lines and all Joe Biden and Secretary Blinken have to do is make a few phone calls. They won’t do it. They are refusing.,&#8221; Crenshaw said about 12 hours laters, &#8220;Even worse, State Department agreed to give me the contact info for US Embassies in these countries so we could go point to point. That was 18 hours ago, I’ve followed up multiple times, and they’ve provided nothing.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Even worse, State Department agreed to give me the contact info for US Embassies in these countries so we could go point to point. That was 18 hours ago, I’ve followed up multiple times, and they’ve provided nothing. <a href="https://t.co/xTmqT1uNpq">https://t.co/xTmqT1uNpq</a>
&mdash; Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1433446500936392713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In late August, after news broke of the terrorist attack on the Kabul, Afghanistan, airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans, Crenshaw, who lost his right eye to an IED blast in Afghanistan on his third deployment, blasted President Biden on Twitter, snapping, “Fix the mess you created. Stop running from it. We are still at war.”
Crenshaw added, “You didn’t ‘end the war,’ you just gave the enemy new advantage. Go on offense, establish superiority, and don’t leave until all our citizens and allies are safe.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Mr. President, fix the mess you created. Stop running from it. We are still at war. You didn’t “end the war,” you just gave the enemy new advantage. Go on offense, establish superiority, and don’t leave until all our citizens and allies are safe. <a href="https://t.co/htKFMQ0Y0k">https://t.co/htKFMQ0Y0k</a>
&mdash; Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanCrenshawTX/status/1430902955587211283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-passports-x-gender-designation-2c29e18fc6566d549b9a06fda0857602">reported</a> of the new passport:
<blockquote>The U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, Jessica Stern, called the moves historic and celebratory, saying they bring the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations. “When a person obtains identity documents that reflect their true identity, they live with greater dignity and respect,” Stern said.</blockquote>
Stern also stated, “We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere.”
On June 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a href="https://www.state.gov/proposing-changes-to-the-departments-policies-on-gender-on-u-s-passports-and-consular-reports-of-birth-abroad/">released a statement</a> in which he lauded President Biden for “demonstrating this administration’s commitment to human rights,” adding:
<blockquote>Most immediately, we will be updating our procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender as “M” or “F” and will no longer require medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents.  The Department has begun moving towards adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a passport or CRBA.  We are evaluating the best approach to achieve this goal.  The process of adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons to these documents is technologically complex and will take time for extensive systems updates.  The Department will also be working closely with its interagency partners to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for the passport holder. </blockquote>

Acting DHS Secretary Wolf And FBI Director Wray Testify Before House Homeland Security Committee

Biden Administration Issues First ‘X’ Gender Passport. Crenshaw Fires, ‘Great News For Americans Still Stuck In Afghanistan’

Dan Crenshaw

On Wednesday, The Associated Press reported that the Biden administration would issue its first passport with an “X” gender marker for people who refused to identify themselves as male or female.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
WASHINGTON (AP) — US official: US to issue its first passport with an &#39;X&#39; gender marker for those who don&#39;t identify as male or female.
&mdash; Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZekeJMiller/status/1453344704444182530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The AP <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-passports-x-gender-designation-2c29e18fc6566d549b9a06fda0857602">reported</a>:
<blockquote>The U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, Jessica Stern, called the moves historic and celebratory, saying they bring the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations. “When a person obtains identity documents that reflect their true identity, they live with greater dignity and respect,” Stern said.</blockquote>
Stern also stated, “We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere.”
The move had been in the works for months; on June 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken <a href="https://www.state.gov/proposing-changes-to-the-departments-policies-on-gender-on-u-s-passports-and-consular-reports-of-birth-abroad/">released a statement</a> in which he lauded President Biden for “demonstrating this administration’s commitment to human rights,” adding:
<blockquote>Today, I am pleased to announce that the Department will be taking further steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender or sex, by beginning the process of updating our procedures for the issuance of U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
Most immediately, we will be updating our procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender as “M” or “F” and will no longer require medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents.  The Department has begun moving towards adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a passport or CRBA.  We are evaluating the best approach to achieve this goal.  The process of adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons to these documents is technologically complex and will take time for extensive systems updates.  The Department will also be working closely with its interagency partners to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for the passport holder.  …
In line with the Administration’s commitment to re-engage with allies and partners, the Department is taking these steps after considerable consultation with like-minded governments who have undertaken similar changes.  We also value our continued engagement with the LGBTQI+ community, which will inform our approach and positions moving forward.  With this action, I express our enduring commitment to the LGBTQI+ community today and moving forward.</blockquote>
“The United States joins a handful of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and Canada, in allowing its citizens to designate a gender other than male or female on their passports,” AP noted.
On Friday, the Biden administration revealed their “National Gender Strategy.” “President Biden and I released the first ever National Gender Strategy,” Vice President Kamala Harris boasted. “This is our vision for the future of our nation—one that is bold in strategy and one that this moment calls for.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Biden and I released the first ever National Gender Strategy. This is our vision for the future of our nation—one that is bold in strategy and one that this moment calls for.<a href="https://t.co/89T8lDmkIM">https://t.co/89T8lDmkIM</a>
&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1452002385526603777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A passport

Biden Administration Issues First-Ever U.S. Passport With ‘X’ Gender Marker