CALIFORNIA — As restrictions on airlines have relaxed, some travelers are having trouble getting off the ground.
A huge backlog in passport applications has put the State Department in the spotlight as it struggles to process passport renewals. Complaints have rushed to congressional offices in Orange County, with some people looking to hurry up applications.
A bipartisan group of 216 members submitted a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken looking for answers about the backlog of passports that has now exceeded 2 million applications.
U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal's, D-Long Beach, office called the response from constituents "unprecedented."
The office of Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Seal Beach, has received at least 140 inquiries looking for answers. Reps. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana and Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, signed the letter along with Steel and Lowenthal.
"We've all gotten very frustrated. It's not just me and my district; it's all congress members," Steel said. "We want the Secretary of State to know how serious we are."
The State Department endured pandemic-related slowdowns in addition to its normal summer busy season. It's just now ramping back up and expects to have 97% of its workforce back by August, a State Department spokesperson said. That will speed the process up by about 100,000 per month, the spokesperson said.
"Our primary focus during our limited staffing was supporting U.S. citizens whose travel had life-or-death consequences," the State Department said.
Congress members have been urgently seeking further answers, a response to a crush of inquiries from constituents.
"We also have heard from constituents who have had to stay on hold for several hours after calling into the National Passport Center to request an update on their passport application. Further, Congressional staff calling on constituents' behalf have also experienced hourslong delays, reducing our office's ability to help a greater number of constituents in need," the letter said.
The State Department has taken several measures to try to speed things up, it said.
It has ensured staff has access to vaccines; 150 employees are poised to return to centers around the count; overtime is available for staff. Now the department is hiring new contractors and has added more appointment slots around the nation.
Beyond that, the State Department has recommended people submit passport applications as soon as possible. There are a very limited number of emergency slots, so most people end up waiting as long as 18 weeks for applications. The $60 expedited option speeds up the process to a maximum of 12 weeks.