Re: portable safes. Get two. Keep one in a relatively visible spot and hide the other (with documents) well. So any “smash and grab” burglars would think they got the good stuff and wouldn’t rummage further.
Someone told me a story. A person bought a giant metal safe for their house. Burglars sent it tumbling down the stairs causing major damage. Left the safe alone and ran beacause it turned out to be too heavy to handle.
The Global Entry card is generally all airlines need for travel. For domestic trips we take that and our real ID licenses and have never needed more. Everyone should have gotten their real ID driver’s licenses by now OR they will have difficulty in airports and can’t enter federal buildings.
All states have to offer a REAL ID option, but can also offer versions of a DL that don’t qualify as a REAL ID. States offer non-citizens licenses and some states licenses to undocumented individuals that of course cannot qualify for REAL ID. My niece’s husband has had a Washington state license for about 10 years but he’s a green card holder and if he wants to travel he has to use his Canadian passport.
“If you’ve lost your passport, the first step is to report it lost or stolen to the U.S. Department of State. You can do this online using the online form filler or by mailing in Form DS-64. To get a replacement, you’ll need to apply in person using Form DS-11 and submit both Form DS-11 and Form DS-64” I Googled this and there are services that will do it for you online, but that will cost you more.
Sister recently had her purse stolen and had her passport in it, so had to go get a new license, then take that to get a new passport.
Right now because of Real ID going into effect on May 7, there are thousands of passport applications in process. People aren’t going to get them by May 7. I’ve seen a lot of stories about long lines for REAL IDs at state DMVs, but Colorado has been issuing them for almost 20 years so no lines here (or just the regular lines).
Our state has been issuing REAL IDs for many many years. I know I got one for 6 years and then renewed for another 6 years and will have to renew again in 2026. No idea on line situation.
I have read that if you’re going to have a home safe installed, it needs to be buried in concrete. We never went that route.
We bought each of our kids ones of those when they graduated for this purpose. We have one too, but ours is somewhat bigger. Has hanging file folders in it. One of the folders has passports and birth certificates, SS cards and marriage license
I got my kids these fire proof safes for Christmas a few years ago. One is a ‘hard to buy for’ kids and she liked it. The other one LOVED it as she was just moving and shoved all kinds of things into it for the move, including her thesis. When she stayed in a hotel when on the road, she carried it into the hotel room rather than leaving it in the car.
It is supposed to be fire proof to 2000 degrees but I don’t want to put it to the test. I think it is better for organizing important documents and to be able to put it in the car for evacuation. I have one of the little box ones that I’ve had for 30 years. That is smaller (not even 8 1/2 x 11) and heavy. It’s on a top shelf so I’d have to reach to get it for a quick get away and I don’t put my passport in it because it isn’t that convenient. I should, but I don’t.
Fireproof Document Box File Organizer Box, Fireproof File Cabinet Box Storage Filing Cabinet Box with Lock, Portable Office Safe Box for Hanging Letter/Legal Folder 16.1 x 12.9 x 11in (Pink)
The box we have is similar to this. It’s over 40 years old (from H’s days as a bachelor) and meets our needs pretty well. It does NOT have plastic insert for cash as we don’t need it as we store other items in box.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/barska-cash-box-with-combination-lock-black/5446039.p?skuId=5446039
Please move on from the discussion of safes.
The OP had a very specific question here.
TIA.
Thank you for comments. I am applying for a new one tomorrow.
Now just be sure not to leave it in the reach of two cockatiels who like to chew pages (from personal experience). 
This happened to my middle kid about 10 years ago. There was a form to fill out and she received a replacement in a few weeks.
Not sure if anything has changed since then, but it wasn’t a big deal. We also knew it wasn’t stolen - through an odd series of circumstances, it very likely got thrown out (never found it).
I think posted this before…I was going on an international trip, luckily I started to pack 2 days prior because it was when I noticed I didn’t have my passport. I then remembered that I had passport with me when I was on a business trip in Chicago the day before. I went into a panic mode. I called an agency in NyC that could get a passport for me in a day for a lot of money. I also decided to call the Chicago airport lost and found. It was unbelievable to me that had my passport. I told them when I needed the passport. They promptly FedEx it to me the same day and provided me with a tracking #. The passport arrived the day before I was leaving!! It was a very close call.
Wow! Yes, the Cockatiel Incident was almost serious. One of our birds chewed holes, right in the middle of the numbers on the front page. DH was able to drive to Boston and they expedited the process so he got his new passport the same day. We flew out the following week. Learned my lesson!
You would need to update your global entry (if you have one) when you get a new passport.
You can use your passport for all of that. I just went to the DMV for my license renewal/Real ID today and the worker there told me that passports will work to get in Federal buildings, too. Not that I asked, but he was a chatty guy.
Yes, passports work for those who have a as current one. Many in US don’t have a passport—it’s pretty expensive if you never leave the country and have to watch your budget.
It is also a lot easier to show your DL and not a passport, plus a DL is easier to replace if lost or stolen.
My sister had her passport in her purse because she’d just returned from an international trip (wallet with DL and her passport all stolen). Pain to replace them all, and not a lot of ID until she did. I try not to keep my passport in my purse but that’s not always convenient.
Some people don’t mind traveling with their passports domestically, but I do. When I worked for the government I traveled with my DL and my agency ID, as I had to show that when entering our offices around the country. It technically wasn’t TSA compliant because it didn’t have an expiration date on it but TSA would accept it.
I never have my passport with me except when traveling internationally or for an official purpose. It’s much bulkier than a DLicense and costs more & more hassle to replace.
I always use my passport for any flight - domestic or international. Have been doing that for years. I don’t see the big deal with carrying it on those occasions. Maybe because I don’t fly that frequently.
Again, the OP asked a specific question, so let’s stay on topic.