On Wednesday, the Transport Group reported that the system used to verify passport data for agencies issuing driver licenses and IDs was down during an outage.
The US Passport Verification Service, according to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), plays a crucial role in assisting driver’s license agencies (DLA) with data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This organization represents officials at various levels in the U.S., managing and enforcing motor vehicle regulations.
AAMVA informed NewsNation, a sister network of The Hill, that the service interruption originated from the DHS side, although specifics were not disclosed.
“We are actively collaborating with our DHS partners to keep states informed and restore services as quickly as possible,” the organization stated, aiming for recovery by 1 PM. However, the current status of the system remains unclear.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Jeannoulious (D) also shared updates regarding the suspension on social media.
“Due to the nationwide suspension, US passport verification is currently unavailable. We’re monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as they come in,” he wrote on Platform X on Wednesday morning.
He urged people to call 800-252-8980 before heading to the DMV, noting that services and wait times might be impacted.
This outage follows the deadline for securing the new ID that recently passed after a lengthy delay.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has noted that more than 80% of air travelers have already complied with the latest ID requirements.
The Hill has reached out to the DHS to confirm the service interruption.
