Republican Plan Would Make It Easier to Revoke US Passports: What to Know

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Newsweek

Published Sep 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM EDT | Updated Sep 16, 2025 at 7:10 AM EDT


A new Republican bill would make it easier for the federal government to revoke or refuse to issue passports to American citizens. A House Foreign Affairs Committee spokesperson responded to concerns about the bill in a statement to Newsweek.

"This provision is just one small part of a larger comprehensive, State Department Authorization Act that the House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced last week. And while preventing someone convicted of aiding and abetting human traffickers and foreign terrorist organizations from fleeing the country shouldn't be controversial, the committee will not allow this distraction to overshadow the bipartisan effort restore command and control of the State Department to the Secretary. As such, the committee will consider an amendment to remove it from the bill during markup of HR 5300," the statement reads.

Why It Matters

The federal government's approach to those who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests has become a major free speech. Cases such as those of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student who was arrested after penning an opinion piece critical of Israel, have underscored those concerns. Critics have warned that the new House GOP bill's vague language could leave open the possibility of similar cases for American citizens who are seeking to obtain or already have a passport.

What to Know

Representative Brian Mast, the Florida Republican who chairs the committee, introduced a sweeping authorization bill that would that includes myriad measures pertaining to the State Department, including one piece that would give Secretary of State Marco Rubio greater authority to revoke American passports for those who have supported foreign terrorist organizations.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/republican-plan-state-secretary-revoke-passports-2130092

[twodogsbarking]

1. Mine is in processing. Will I have to try and get it from that guy with the fishing pole?

[hlthe2b]

2. I am the last one to ever justify violence, but I can predict that which might bring it on...

And whether it be economic devastation or the overt removal of rights that entraps people without hope, violence does not infrequently follow.

[Aristus]

3. Up next: A very, VERY loose definition of what constitutes support for foreign terrorist organizations.

[AZJonnie]

4. And after that, the conveying of the idea that if you can't get a passport, then you aren't really a US citizen

to begin with.

[Lonestarblue]

12. I donate to charities that help feed starving children, including those in Gaza.

Am I now supporting a terrorist organization because it helps thwart the will of Israel to murder all Palestinian children? We have gone down the rabbit hole of insanity with Trump and his Republicans who think they have the right to force us to think as they do.

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Fascist dictators always prevent

Citizen from leaving the country. It starts with picking and choosing whos passports to revoke then it becomes citizens asking permission from the government to travel outside the country. Can't have all the victims escaping to better places.

So much for liberty. Isn't liberty in one of those founding documents? You know the ones all office holders and military swear alligance to then ignore.

[Efilroft Sul]

6. The endgame is to deny Americans from fleeing the country as they seek asylum elsewhere. Because, cruelty.

[North Coast Lawyer]

7. expanding definitions

If this passes the definition of what constitutes "supporting a foreign terrorist organization" will expand to absurd proportions.

[NH Ethylene]

8. Like maybe searching social media?

I could see a day when saying on Facebook that you are against right-wing policies or dislike certain people could freeze your rights under an umbrella of cracking down on so called 'leftist extremists.'

It's both terrifying and sickening.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. "I could see a day when saying on Facebook..."

...or, having posted anything on Democratic Underground.

I mean the name just sounds all terroristy.

[ancianita]

13. The fact is, DU is a business. Businesses have incorporated names, TOS, internal policies on content, etc..

Last edited Wed Sep 17, 2025, 06:41 AM - Edit history (1)

"I could see a day when...

To stay on realistic grounds, one could see all "Republican plans" as "Foment-fear-and-control" plans.

A bill is never a done deal. Out of 12,000 bills presented in the 118th, only 34 were enacted. It's good to know about this bill and also keep in mind that this is just a bill.

While imagining that lawless henchmen in govt might ignore the facts and law, one can overlook that hundreds of thousands of Americans have shown up at Bernie rallies because they know it's Americans' job to defend theirs and their children's human rights from totalitarian threats or attacks, whether they're in the form of E.O.'s, military deployments, or even bills.

No offense intended, but when it comes to OP's about republican/oligarch driven bills, we on DU don't really need to let that information trigger fearful imaginings and/or predictions that take up our collective mental space. It would be kinda like doing the felon's work for him.

[North Coast Lawyer]

22. its already happening

In response to a very mild Facebook post about Charlie Kirk's death (I suggested that there are many people more deserving of remembrance) several conservative Facebook users posted links to my employer's website with the implication that people should complain and get me fired.

[Danmel]

9. I need to look into Polish citizenship

My dad was a Holocaust survivor from Zawiercie Poland. An EU passport would be nice. Always have an exit strategy. I'm just glad he's not here to see this.

[BurnDoubt]

11. Sing Along:

"I'm being eaten by a Boa Constrictor, a Boa Constrictor, a Boa Constrictor........."

[RandiFan1290]

14. They are also collecting your voter registration info. nt

[somsai]

15. They can and do pull people's passports already

for becoming destitute in foreign countries and needing to be repatriated for instance, they pull your passport when you get off the plane they paid for and don't return it until you pay for all the costs they incurred.

It's probably not a great idea to join terrorist orgs anyway.

[Vinca]

16. I'm confused. If they hate people enough to grab their passports, doesn't that defeat their purpose of wanting

them to leave the country?

[Karma13612]

19. Their goal is to restrict our movements

and our speech.

I’ll go live on the Rez in St Lawrence County NY if I have to. Or take every cent I have and move to California. NY is profreedom right now. But, I think I’d be safer in California. Even with being on a gigantic fault line.

I will not put up with this 💩🤬🤬

[mdbl]

17. Soon we will be in the full-blown handmade's tale mode

3/4 of the way there now.

[Karma13612]

20. Agree

[Karma13612]

18. FTS

If they take away a passport, that means we are no longer tied to any country? Or is this meant to restrict travel to just the US? Either way, this is not Constitutional. Is it?

Handmaid’s Tale

[travelingthrulife]

21. Like Elon's and Melania's? Both gained US citizenship illegally.