U.S. passport application wait times back to normal, State Department says
CBSN
Passport application wait times have returned to normal after years of backlogs, the State Department said Monday.
In 2021, the wait time for a passport was up to 18 weeks. As of Monday, officials said applications will be processed within 6-8 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service.
"With this update, we have fulfilled our commitment to return to benchmarks from March 2020," the State Department said in a statement. "This reflects the work of dedicated employees working for the American people."
The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that the U.S. food supply is still "one of the safest in the world," in the wake of a number of foodborne disease outbreaks affecting items ranging from organic carrots to deli meats to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. E. coli, listeria and other contaminants have sickened thousands of people and forced a number of recalls in recent months.
We just had another election with a clear and verifiable victor, overseen by hundreds of thousands of election officials. Those public servants have suffered years of harassment, and despite their successes, are still being accused of taking part in a massive and impossible conspiracy — a conspiracy led by the party out of power to steal an election and cover up all evidence.
Washington — Former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz is meeting with senators on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as he seeks to shore up support for his nomination for attorney general amid calls for the House Ethics Committee to release a report on allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.