Press Releases

In Letter to GSA, Federal Representatives Urge GSA to Keep Passport Agency in Downtown Buffalo, Citing Easy Access Throughout the Region

Buffalo Passport Agency, The Only Agency Within Hundreds of Miles, Opened in 2010, Easing the Process of Expedited Passport Processing for Thousands of WNYers

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Senator Charles Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are raising the alarm over plans by the General Services Administration (GSA) to move the Buffalo Passport Agency out of Downtown Buffalo. This move threatens ease of access for residents who rely on mass transit and also hinders the ongoing recovery of Downtown from the COVID-19 pandemic. The request for proposals from the GSA removes large swaths of the City of Buffalo from the area of consideration, likely resulting in a move to suburban areas of Western New York that have less mass transit accessibility. 

In a letter to the Acting GSA Administrator, led by Kennedy, urging the GSA to reverse this proposal, it was noted that the Agency “is strategically situated within .25 miles or less of multiple public transportation options, including NFTA Metro routes 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 19, 24, 42, 74, 76, and light rail.” This provides access from the entire NFTA network area. With at least 20,000 fewer workers driving into Downtown Buffalo post-pandemic, the last thing that the Federal Government should be doing is further decreasing foot and vehicle traffic to the area.

“Since its opening, the Buffalo Passport Agency has been a runaway success, helping thousands of Western New Yorkers access an expedited passport and saving them hundreds of miles of round-trip travel to access the next-nearest offices in Michigan, Vermont, or New York City,” said Congressman Kennedy. “The Agency has helped to anchor an important corridor in Downtown Buffalo, providing access to the entire NFTA catchment area and providing stability in a volatile real estate market. The GSA must recognize the importance of a central location and revise this misguided plan.”

“This plan to move Buffalo’s Passport Agency out of downtown should be stamped ‘Return To Sender,’ because there is no way we are going to tolerate making it more difficult for Western New Yorkers to get the IDs they need to travel,” said Senator Schumer. “Buffalo’s Passport Agency office has delivered top-notch, efficient service for 15 years, and if it moves away from the heart of Buffalo it will hurt thousands of Western New Yorkers who depend on this office for timely assistance and convenient location. We can’t make this vital office less accessible to the Western New Yorkers that depend on it, which is why we are calling on the GSA to abandon this disruptive and unwise plan.”

"Moving the Buffalo Passport Agency out of the downtown area would be a huge step backward for accessibility and for the tens of thousands of Western New Yorkers who depend on this essential service every year," said Senator Gillibrand. "Located within a quarter mile of multiple public transit routes, it's accessible to people across the region, especially those without personal transportation. Relocating the agency to a suburban area with limited transit options would create unnecessary obstacles for families, seniors, and individuals seeking essential passport services. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in calling on the GSA to maintain this vital resource in downtown Buffalo."

“Moving the Buffalo Passport Agency from its downtown location and out to the suburbs would make the agency a lot less accessible for our mass transit riders,” said Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. “I applaud Congressman Kennedy’s efforts to keep the Buffalo Passport Agency downtown, and easily accessible to all.”

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “The Buffalo Passport Agency on Genesee Street is located in the heart of our city’s downtown corridor, and it’s because of its central location that countless Western New Yorkers have been able to access services and get assistance for expedited passports and international travel documents. Moving the agency into the suburbs will decrease accessibility for those who rely on mass transit, and it will create an undue burden for a service that should be readily available to all residents. I urge the General Services Administration to listen to the concerns of the community, and to solicit feedback as to how a proposed move would affect all those who have walked through the agency’s doors through the years.”

“Pulling the Passport Agency out of downtown sends exactly the wrong message,” said Assemblyman Pat Burke. “As the Chairman of the Assembly’s Cities Committee, I’m ensuring that New York State is prioritizing and investing in our cities - the Trump Administration needs to show the same commitment, because government at every level has a responsibility to strengthen our urban core - not retreat from it.”

“Moving the Buffalo Passport Agency out of downtown would be a step backward for accessibility and equity,” said Erie County Legislator Lawrence Dupre. “This location is vital for members of our community who rely on convenient public transportation and central access. I strongly oppose any move that would make it harder for our residents to access these essential government services.”

Since opening in 2010, the Buffalo Passport Agency has gained a reputation for its ability to process passports quickly, sometimes even within one business day for urgent cases. In 2017, the agency expanded its service windows from five to seven to further increase its processing capacity, which allowed it to handle up to 160 passports per day. The agency serves much of Upstate New York State and also attracts customers from other states, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, due to its efficiency.

The text of Kennedy, Schumer, and Gillibrand’s letter is below:

June 18, 2025

Stephen Ehikian 

Acting Administrator and Deputy Administrator

U.S. General Services Administration 

1800 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20405

Dear Acting Administrator Ehikian:

It has come to our attention that the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is considering relocating the Buffalo Passport Agency from its current location at 111 Genesee St, Suite 101, in downtown Buffalo, New York. We write to express our firm opposition to uprooting this office from the City of Buffalo. Since its establishment in 2010 through federal Recovery Act funding, the Buffalo Passport Agency has grown to meet the increasing needs of our region. Prior to the Agency office opening in 2010, Western New Yorkers in urgent need of a passport would have to drive 6 to 8 hours to the nearest office. It is one of only 27 passport agencies nationwide and the only one in the region. We believe that any attempts to move this facility outside the City of Buffalo would be shortsighted and have significant consequences for accessibility, economic development, and the services our constituents rely on. 

The Buffalo Passport Agency has delivered exceptional service to our constituents at this location for the past 15 years with timely, efficient, and professional support. Since its 2017 expansion, the agency has increased access, reduced wait times, and worked in close partnership with our offices to assist constituents across New York, especially during times of hardship or emergencies. In addition to its proximity to the Canadian border, which facilitates easy access for passport applications and renewals near one of the nation’s busiest crossings, the Buffalo Passport Agency has become even more critical with the implementation of Real ID requirements. Travelers must now present a Real ID or an equivalent document, such as a valid passport, to fly domestically. As many constituents face long delays at the DMV, the Buffalo Passport Agency is one of the only viable options for urgent travel needs. 

The current location of the Buffalo Passport Agency is also highly accessible to the public and the hardworking and dedicated agency staff who serve our community. Not only is the Agency centrally located in the region, it is strategically situated within .25 miles or less of multiple public transportation options, including NFTA Metro routes 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 19, 24, 42, 74, 76, and light rail. These routes are accessible to the NFTA’s entire network, including areas, both urban and suburban, with limited public transit options. 

This office has been an anchor in downtown Buffalo since its establishment in 2010 as the first tenant in the Genesee Gateway historic adaptive reuse project, and its expansion in 2017, which doubled the size and staff at the facility to allow for additional back-office passport processing. The current location offers economic synergy with the downtown business corridor that relies on the Passport Agency’s regular foot traffic and contributes to ongoing revitalization efforts. For years, the City of Buffalo has worked to attract and retain businesses to increase the vibrancy of the downtown corridor, and relocation of this facility would be a step backward. This possible move by the GSA would create an unnecessary vacancy in our urban core and undermine decades of ongoing economic development and investment, hindering our region's momentum. 

We strongly urge GSA to abandon plans to relocate the Buffalo Passport Agency from the City of Buffalo. Moving this facility out of Buffalo at such a pivotal moment would be both disruptive and irresponsible for Western New York and New York State. Preserving the Buffalo Passport Agency in downtown Buffalo is essential for accessibility, continued economic revitalization, and the delivery of the reliable, high-quality services our constituents depend on. 

Sincerely, 

Timothy M. Kennedy

Member of Congress (NY-26)

CC:     Michael Gelber

    Regional Commissioner

    Northeast and Caribbean Region

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