US Passport Revocation for Child Support: State Dept Cancels 2,700 Passports for $100K+ Unpaid

# US Passport Revocation for Child Support: State Dept Cancels 2,700 Passports for $100K+ Unpaid

> **Quick answer:** On May 8, 2026, the U.S. State Department began revoking the passports of approximately 2,700 Americans who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support. This action is authorized by a 1996 federal law that has been newly enforced at scale. The threshold is expected to drop to $2,500 — potentially pulling millions of passport holders into the program. Once revoked, a passport cannot be used for travel until the full debt is paid and cleared by HHS.

Passport revocation for child support debt is no longer a theoretical threat — it started on May 8, 2026. The State Department confirmed to the Associated Press that it has begun cancelling the passports of parents who owe $100,000 or more in unpaid child support, with roughly 2,700 passport holders affected in this first enforcement wave. And if the threshold drops to $2,500 as planned, the program's reach could expand by orders of magnitude.

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for legal matters specific to your situation.*

## What Happened: The May 8, 2026 Enforcement Action

The State Department announced the revocations on Thursday, May 7, with enforcement beginning Friday, May 8. The action targets passport holders certified by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as owing past-due child support above $100,000.