Sponsors (2)
The bill speeds up passport processing by extending temporary hiring authority, improving service for travelers, while increasing near-term taxpayer costs and postponing longer-term staffing decisions at the State Department.
Passport applicants and travelers may get faster passport services because federal passport offices can keep flexible hiring authority for two more years, allowing quicker hiring to fill vacancies and reduce processing backlogs.
Taxpayers may bear increased personnel costs for up to two more years because the extension funds continued flexible hiring authority.
Federal employees and the State Department could face delayed decisions on making positions permanent or implementing long-term workforce planning, prolonging temporary staffing arrangements and uncertainty.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Extends the Department of State's special hiring authority for passport services from 3 years to 5 years.
Official title: To amend the Department of State Authorization Act of 2023 to extend the special hiring authority for passport services.
Introduced July 15, 2025 by Michael Lawler · Last progress July 15, 2025
Extends a special hiring authority for U.S. passport services from three years to five years, lengthening the period during which the Secretary of State may use expedited personnel authorities to hire staff for passport operations. The change modifies existing law to give the Department of State more time to recruit and onboard personnel aimed at reducing passport processing backlogs.