Podcasts Government Federal Drive with Tom Temin State Dept surges hiring amid historically high demand for passports to drive down wait times

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

Published: June 15, 2023, 11:40 a.m.

b'The State Department, facing a historic increase in passport applicants, is looking to ramp up hiring and modernize its IT systems to drive down wait times.\\nThe State Department set a record last year when it issued about 22 million passport books and cards last year. But the department is on track to break that record and issue about 25 million passport books and cards this year \\u2014 about a 15% increase from last year.\\nAssistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the Bureau of Consular Affairs is seeing \\u201chistorically high demand\\u201d for passport and visa services.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'