The Ferguson Library has provided the services since 1999, and says that last year, it processed almost 8,000 passports. "It is a major service," said Alice Knapp, the CEO of the Ferguson Library. "It's one that's beloved by the community, partially because it's so convenient, but also because for families, you can bring your whole family here." However last week, both Ferguson, and the Ridgefield Library, which says it processed a little less than 600 passport applications in 2025, both received letters from the U.S. State Department, telling them it would no longer be allowed. The libraries tell News 12 that the federal government wants to start enforcing a part of the Passport Act of 1920, which had not been enforced for decades, and that no other explanation or rationale was provided. Only libraries that operate as 501(c)(3) nonprofits are impacted by this, although Knapp says it is a fairly common operating model for many older libraries, and ones in more rural parts of the country. Government-run places, such as municipal libraries and post offices will still be allowed to offer passport services. "We've never seen ourselves as in competition or whatever, it's additive," said Brenda McKinley, the library director at the Ridgefield Library. "We're open until 8 or 9:00 p.m., we're open Saturday and Sunday where we can provide a passport service," added Knapp. "So, we're really hurting people who don't have the flexibility to take a day off from work." Beyond the convenience factor, the libraries say this will also lead to a legitimate loss of revenue in budgets that are already tight. Both tell News 12 they will have to cut back on the number of activities they offer, with McKinley saying Ridgefield will not be able to buy as many books, and Knapp saying that Ferguson actually has to leave two positions open without making a hire this fiscal year. There is a chance this could be temporary however, a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow the libraries to bring the services back, and has sponsors from both sides of the aisle, including Connecticut's Jim Himes. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also tells News 12 that he will be writing a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding the service be allowed to continue. While both Knapp and McKinley say they are hopeful something will break though with so much bipartisan support, they don't want to get their hopes up. "I have no idea how quickly something like that would happen," said McKinley, "so it's really planning for the worst." The Ridgefield Library's passport staff also has other roles within the building, so they will focus on those. The Ferguson Library say it will look to re-assign most of the people who work in the office, and hope that not many will lose their jobs.