U.S. State Department Policy

The State Department, under the Trump administration, is preparing to step up enforcement of a 1996 federal law that allows revocation of U.S. passports for individuals with substantial unpaid child support, moving from case‑by‑case action at renewal time to proactive cancellations based on Health and Human Services arrears data. According to U.S. officials cited by the Associated Press, the first wave will target passport holders who owe more than $100,000 in back child support—fewer than 500 people—who can avoid losing their passports only by entering a payment plan with HHS once notified. Officials say the arrears threshold could later be lowered, which would dramatically expand the number of affected parents and further restrict international travel for those behind on payments. Until now, State typically enforced the 30‑year‑old statute only when someone applied to renew or replace a passport or sought other consular services, but the new approach would trigger revocations mid‑term. In a statement, the department said it is reviewing options to ensure 'deadbeat parents' cannot use passports to evade their 'legal and moral obligations' to their children, noting that the existing passport‑denial program has already prompted roughly $621 million in back child support payments.