There's nothing about a pandemic that says that passport issuance/renewal must be closed down all year keeping Americans trapped in the U.S. Stop excusing low standards.
Not to mention even if we weren't in a pandemic the whole process of passport renewals is stupid and overly time-consuming. If my information is all the same, why can't I just upload my new passport photo online and have my new passport automatically printed and sent to me?
Indoor workers face serious health risks if they have to go into the office and can't maintain social distancing. Do you really think someone should put their family's life at risk because you waited to the last minute to renew your passport and want to go on vacation?
Before you accuse others of low standards I would do a little introspection. The only person you have to blame for waiting until you were months away from expiration is yourself. You could have easily had it renewed while you lived abroad. My advice for when you have a task like a passport renewal that needs repeating once every 10 years: consider doing it before 97.5% of the time has elapsed.