Passport Day axed after US budget cuts
The Minneapolis Passport Agency says it is canceling "Passport Day" on March 9.
The annual event allows people to go to the agency without an appointment and have passport papers processed quickly without a fee.
Minneapolis Passport Agency Director Bob DeWitt says the State Department canceled the event nationwide because of the automatic budget cuts. He says officials will reschedule if they can.
"I know two years ago we had to cancel at the last moment because of a continuing resolution where there was a potential government shutdown, and that year we were able to reschedule it in September," DeWitt said.
He added: "In the past we've seen as many as 500 people come on Passport Day, with about 350 of those actually applying for passports."
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.