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FILE - This May 25, 2021, file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. Americans hoping to travel abroad this summer may have to delay their plans if they need new or renewed passports. Would-be travelers are overwhelming federal offices as the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions unleashes a pent-up demand for passports. Wait times for new passports and renewals are now up to 18 weeks and those seeking expedited appointments can take up to 12 weeks. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File) — Virus_Outbreak_Passport_Backlog_43581

Federal Newscast

Senator hopes to speed up passport process before summer ends

In today's Federal Newscast, one Senator says he’s working on legislation that would give the State Department more ways to handle its backlog of passport applications.

Hiring/Retention

State Dept surges hiring amid 'historically high' demand for passports to drive down wait times

Management

Drop in international travel during pandemic jeopardized State Dept passport revenue

Federal Report

All dressed up and somewhere to go: back to the office

People

What GPO has in common with Vera Bradley, Briggs and Stratton

Agency Oversight

This State Department IT project started in 2009 and it's nowhere near finished

IT Modernization

State Dept expects long-awaited online passport renewal system to launch by fall 2022

President Joe Biden speaks at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Federal Newscast

New executive order aims to improve federal customer service

FILE - This Aug. 10, 2006, file photo shows the sign used as the backdrop for press briefings at the U.S. Department of State in Washington. More of the first volunteers are starting to trickle back to their desks at federal agencies in the coronavirus lockdown. In the third month after Americans began sheltering in place and worksites began closing, the Energy Department says the first voluntary returns of a small number of headquarters workers began Monday. The State Department and Agriculture Department also have some workers returning to job places this month. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak. File)

IT Modernization

IG links State Dept. staffing issues to delays in decade-long IT modernization project

FILE - This May 25, 2021, file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. Americans hoping to travel abroad this summer may have to delay their plans if they need new or renewed passports. Would-be travelers are overwhelming federal offices as the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions unleashes a pent-up demand for passports. Wait times for new passports and renewals are now up to 18 weeks and those seeking expedited appointments can take up to 12 weeks. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File)

Federal Newscast

State Dept. says it's back to sending passports out at pre-pandemic levels

FILE - In this June 7, 2021, file photo, demonstrators at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital in Baytown, Texas, wave at cars that honk at them to support their protest against a policy that says hospital employees must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or lose their jobs. A federal judge dismissed their lawsuit, saying if workers don’t like the rule, they can go find another job. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Federal Newscast

Civilian defense employees find out just what will happen if they refuse COVID-19 vaccine

State Dept passport

IT Modernization

State Dept. IT modernization delays leave passport services staff unable to telework

State Dept passport

Workforce

Passport services union presses State Dept. for more leave flexibility amid COVID-19 outbreaks

FILE - This May 25, 2021, file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. Americans hoping to travel abroad this summer may have to delay their plans if they need new or renewed passports. Would-be travelers are overwhelming federal offices as the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions unleashes a pent-up demand for passports. Wait times for new passports and renewals are now up to 18 weeks and those seeking expedited appointments can take up to 12 weeks. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File)

Federal Newscast

USPS sees steep decline in revenue due to lack of passport applications during pandemic

FILE - This May 25, 2021, file photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. Americans hoping to travel abroad this summer may have to delay their plans if they need new or renewed passports. The State Department said Wednesday that the wait for a passport is now between 12 weeks and 18 weeks, even if you pay for expedited processing. That’s because of ripple effects from the coronavirus pandemic that caused extreme disruptions to the process at domestic issuance facilities and overseas embassies and consulates. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman, File)

Hiring/Retention

State Dept. staffing surge won’t address passport backlog overnight, union warns

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lighting II

Federal Newscast

Crackdown in the works against acquisition fraud and misconduct

This May 25, 2021 photo shows a U.S. Passport cover in Washington. The Biden administration says American citizens holding recently expired U.S. passports will be allowed to return home from abroad on that document until the end of year. (AP Photo/Eileen Putman)

Federal Newscast

US citizens can now self-select their gender on their passports

Management

USPS, GSA expand ‘government storefront’ concept with PIV card pilot

State Dept passport

Workforce

State Dept. tells passport services employees without high-risk conditions to return to work Nov. 16

State Dept passport

Agency Oversight

State Dept. looks to resume 'normal operations' at passport agencies within 6-8 weeks

A MTA employee, wears a mask to protect against coronavirus, waits in the conductors area of a subway car as NYPD and MTA officers wake up sleeping passengers and direct them to the exits at the 207th Street A-train station, Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Federal Newscast

EPA wants to help cities keep their transit systems clean

government publishing office

Workforce

GPO tells passport production staff to return to work July 6 following State Dept reopening

State Dept passport

Workforce

State Dept reopens 11 passport services sites, confronts million-case backlog