View source for United States Postal Service

{{Short description|Independent agency of the U.S. federal government}}
{{Redirect2|United States Post Office|USPS|individual post offices|List of United States post offices|the non-profit boating safety and education organization|United States Power Squadrons}} {{Distinguish|United States Postal Inspection Service}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = United States Postal Service
| type            = agency
| logo            = USPS - Color Logo.svg
| logo_caption    = Government signature used since 1993
| picture         = US Postal Service Headquarters (53832134440) b.jpg
| picture_caption = USPS Headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]] (2024)
| formed          = {{start date and age|1971|7|1}}<br />[[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. federal government]]
| headquarters    = 475 [[L'Enfant Plaza]] SW<br />Washington, D.C. 20260-0004<br />U.S.
| employees       = 640,000 (525,377 career personnel, 114,623 pre-career personnel) as of 2024
| chief1_name     = [[David P. Steiner|David Steiner]]
| chief1_position = [[United States Postmaster General|Postmaster General]] 
| chief2_name     = 
| chief2_position = 
| keydocument1    = [[Postal Clause]] of the [[Constitution of the United States|United States Constitution]]<!-- (etc.) -->
| website         = {{URL|https://usps.com/|usps.com}}
| footnotes       = <ref name="usps history">{{cite web|title=On This Day in Postal History: Notable Events by Month/Day/Year|url=https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/on-this-day.pdf#page=6|publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=August 16, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602194815/https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/on-this-day.pdf#page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Who We Are: Leadership|url=https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/officers/ |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=August 16, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815180949/https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/officers/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USPS_SizeAndScope">{{cite web|title=Size and scope|work=Postal Facts - U.S. Postal Service |url=https://facts.usps.com/size-and-scope/ |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=September 12, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=July 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720192245/https://facts.usps.com/size-and-scope/}}</ref>
| embed           = {{Infobox
 | bodystyle = width:100%
 | data1 = {{Infobox
  | decat  = yes
  | child  = yes
  | label1 = Revenue (2024)
  | data1  = {{increase}} $80.5 billion<ref name="USPSFY24" />{{rp|1}}
  | label2 = Net income  (2024)
  | data2  = {{decrease}} −$9.5 billion<ref name="USPSFY24" />{{rp|1}}
}}
 }}
}}

[[File:Logo of the United States Post Service (1970–1993).png|thumb|The full eagle logo, used in various versions from 1970 to 1993]]

The '''United States Postal Service''' ('''USPS'''), also known as the '''Post Office''', '''U.S. Mail''', or simply the '''Postal Service''', is an [[independent agencies of the United States government|independent agency]] of the executive branch of the [[federal government of the United States|United States federal government]] responsible for providing [[mail|postal service]] in the United States, its [[insular area]]s and [[Compact of Free Association|associated states]]. It is one of a few government agencies [[Postal Clause|explicitly authorized]] by the [[Constitution of the United States]]. As of March 29, 2024, the USPS has 525,377 career employees and nearly 114,623 pre-career employees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pre-Career Employee Turnover and Retention |url=https://www.uspsoig.gov/focus-areas/focus-on/pre-career-employee-turnover-and-retention#:~:text=The%20Postal%20Service's%20operations%20depend,called%20non-career%20employees). |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325024445/https://www.uspsoig.gov/focus-areas/focus-on/pre-career-employee-turnover-and-retention#:~:text=The%20Postal%20Service's%20operations%20depend,called%20non-career%20employees). |archive-date=March 25, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Office of Inspector General |date=March 29, 2024 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

The USPS has a monopoly on traditional [[Letter (message)|letter]] delivery within the U.S. and operates under a [[Universal service|universal service obligation]] (USO), both of which are defined across a broad set of legal mandates, which obligate it to provide uniform price and quality across the entirety of its service area.<ref name="2008 Postal Monopoly webpage"/> The Post Office has exclusive access<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/230/224237.pdf|title=Information About Restrictions on Mailbox Access|date=May 30, 1997|website=United States General Accounting Office|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524195204/http://www.gao.gov/assets/230/224237.pdf|archive-date=May 24, 2017|access-date=April 16, 2020}}</ref> to [[letter box]]es marked "U.S. Mail" and personal letterboxes in the U.S., but has to compete against private [[package delivery]] services, such as [[United Parcel Service]], [[FedEx]], and [[DHL]].<ref name="USPS USO Monopoly brief history">{{cite web|title=Universal Service and the Postal Monopoly: A Brief History|url=http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/universal-service-postal-monopoly-history.pdf|publisher=The United States Postal Service|access-date=February 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224062209/http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/universal-service-postal-monopoly-history.pdf|archive-date=February 24, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Further|United States Post Office Department|Postage stamps and postal history of the United States}}
{{See also|2020 United States Postal Service crisis|Postal Service Reform Act of 2022}}
The first national postal agency in the US, known as the ''United States Post Office'' was founded by the [[Second Continental Congress]] in [[Philadelphia]] on July 26, 1775, at the beginning of the [[American Revolution]]. [[Benjamin Franklin]] was appointed the first [[United States Postmaster General|postmaster general]]; he also served a similar position for the American colonies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Benjamin Franklin. World of Influence. Man of Letters|url=https://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_letters.html|access-date=March 11, 2021|website=www.pbs.org|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127012817/http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/l3_world_letters.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[United States Post Office Department|Post Office Department]] was created in 1792 with the passage of the [[Postal Service Act]]. It was elevated to a [[Cabinet of the United States|cabinet-level]] department in 1872, and was transformed by the [[Postal Reorganization Act of 1970]] into the U.S. Postal Service as an independent agency.<ref>Postal Reorganization Act, Pub. Law No. 91-375, 84 Stat. 719, at 720 (August 12, 1970), codified at {{usc|39|201}}.</ref>

The Post Office Department owned and operated the first public [[telegraph line]]s in the United States, starting in 1844 from Washington to Baltimore, and eventually extending to New York, Boston, Buffalo, and Philadelphia. In 1847, the telegraph system was privatized, except for a period during World War I, when it was used to accelerate the delivery of letters arriving at night.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2008 |title=Telegraph: Early Postal Role |url=http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/telegraph.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531004552/http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/telegraph.pdf |archive-date=May 31, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |website=Postal History |publisher=USPS}}</ref>

Between 1942 and 1945, "[[V-Mail]]" (for "Victory Mail") service was available for [[military mail]]. Letters were converted into [[microfilm]] and reprinted near the destination, to save room on transport vehicles for military cargo.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2008 |title=V-Mail |url=http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/v-mail.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508223612/https://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/VMail.pdf |archive-date=May 8, 2009 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |website=Postal History |publisher=USPS}}</ref>

The [[United States Information Agency]] (USIA) helped the Post Office Department, during the Cold War, to redesign stamps to include more patriotic slogans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Modarressi |first1=Matin |title="Our American Credo": The US Post Office and the Cold War |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/our-american-credo-us-post-office-and-cold-war |website=www.wilsoncenter.org |date=November 8, 2023 |publisher=The Wilson Center |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref> {{Anchor| strike & reorganization}}On March 18, 1970, postal workers in New York City—upset over low wages and poor working conditions, and emboldened by the Civil Rights Movement—[[U.S. postal strike of 1970|organized a strike]]. The strike initially involved postal workers in only New York City, but it eventually gained support of over 210,000 postal workers across the nation.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Great 1970 Mail Strike that Stunned the Country |work=Labor History Articles |publisher=American Postal Workers Union |date=March 2017 |url=https://www.apwu.org/labor-history-articles/great-1970-mail-strike-stunned-country |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422103224/https://www.apwu.org/labor-history-articles/great-1970-mail-strike-stunned-country |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> While the strike ended without any concessions from the federal government, it did ultimately allow for postal worker unions and the government to negotiate a contract which gave the unions most of what they wanted, as well as the signing of the [[Postal Reorganization Act]] by President [[Richard Nixon]] on August 12, 1970. The act replaced the cabinet-level Post Office Department with a new federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service,<ref>{{cite web |author1=Boyd, Deanna |author2=Chen, Kendra |title=Postal Strike and Reorganization: Reinventing the System |work=The History and Experience of African Americans in America's Postal Service |publisher=[[National Postal Museum]] |year=2019 |url=https://postalmuseum.si.edu/AfricanAmericanHistory/p11.html |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801074856/https://postalmuseum.si.edu/AfricanAmericanHistory/p11.html |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and took effect on July 1, 1971.<ref>{{cite web |last=Piazza |first=Daniel |title=8-cent Postal Service Emblem |publisher=Smithsonian [[National Postal Museum]] |date=April 15, 2008 |url=https://arago.si.edu/category_2038936.html |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306114222/http://arago.si.edu/category_2038936.html |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Among the changes from the Postal Reorganization Act, a key aspect was the requirement for the USPS to be self-financing, which introduced a conflict with its other requirement to provide a nationwide service.<ref name=Lee>{{Cite news| last = Lee| first = Ella| title =USPS gets a financial overhaul: Here's what we know about the Postal Service Reform Act  | work=USA Today | access-date =September 27, 2024| date =April 6, 2022 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/06/usps-reform-act-what-to-know/9482162002/}}</ref> The next major legislation affecting the service, the [[Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act]], was passed in 2006.<ref name=Lee/> This act limited the services that the Postal Service could offer to only those it already provided and also established a requirement for the USPS to save money for the medical benefits of future retirees.<ref name=Lee/> The Act set a goal to save $5 billion per year for the first 10 years of a 50-year schedule, however within 6 years the Postal Service began to default on its payments.<ref name=Lee/> The Postal Service experienced lower revenues as mail use declined in the 2010s.<ref name=Bogage>{{Cite news| last = Bogage| first =Jason| title =House Republicans and Democrats agree on $57 billion USPS overhaul | newspaper=The Washington Post | access-date =September 27, 2024| date =February 8, 2022 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/02/08/usps-dejoy-congress-reform/}}</ref> In 2012, in order to be able to meet obligations for payroll and continuing its operations, the Postal Service defaulted on payments due for retirements benefits in August and again in September that year.<ref name="npr.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/08/01/157717281/usps-defaults-on-5-5-billion-payment-to-treasury |title=USPS Defaults on $5.5 Billion Payment to Treasury |website=NPR |date=August 2012 |last1=Peralta |first1=Eyder |access-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212020326/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/08/01/157717281/usps-defaults-on-5-5-billion-payment-to-treasury |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2014, it defaulted on the payments for the fourth time,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_059.htm |title=U.S. Postal Service Reports Revenue Increase, $5.5 Billion Loss in Fiscal 2014 |publisher=USPS |date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521053051/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_059.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and continued to default into 2017.<ref name="govexec.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2017/09/usps-defaults-billions-mandatory-payments-despite-scheduled-relief/141404/ |first1=Eric |last1=Katz |website=Government Executive |title=USPS Defaults on Billions in Mandatory Payments, Despite Scheduled Relief |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212020937/https://www.govexec.com/management/2017/09/usps-defaults-billions-mandatory-payments-despite-scheduled-relief/141404/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The Postal Service sought financial reforms from Congress for relief from the funding obligation and debt from the defaults.<ref name=Bogage/> Legislation was introduced in Congress in 2016<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |last1=Chaffetz |first1=Jason |title=Text – H.R.5714 – 114th Congress (2015–2016): Postal Service Reform Act of 2016 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5714/text#HFBD89F2925164BD4A6495C540F757BD0 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=December 8, 2016}}</ref> as well as in 2019, aiming to remove the benefits funding obligations,<ref>{{Cite news| last = Katz| first =Eric| title =House Votes to End Controversial USPS Payments for Future Retirees' Health Care | work=Government Executive | access-date =November 1, 2024| date =February 5, 2020 | url =https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/02/house-votes-end-controversial-usps-payments-future-retirees-health-care/162912/}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |last1=DeFazio |first1=Peter A. |title=Text – H.R.2382 – 116th Congress (2019–2020): USPS Fairness Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2382/text |website=Congress.gov |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=February 10, 2020|archive-date=May 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502133252/https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2382/all-actions|url-status=live}}</ref>  however no new legislation was passed until the 2022 Postal Service Reform Act (PSRA).<ref name=Bogage/> The PSRA  was signed into law in April 2022.<ref name=Lee/> It forgave $57 billion in Postal Service debt and released it from the obligation to set aside funds for future retirees' healthcare, as well as adding requirements for delivery timing and reporting on performance metrics, and allowing the Postal Service to offer some non-mail services.<ref name=Bogage/><ref name=CBS-PSRA>{{Cite news| last =| first =| title =Postal Service reform bill heads to Senate after strong bipartisan House vote | work=CBS News | access-date =September 27, 2024| date =February 9, 2022 | url =https://www.cbsnews.com/news/postal-service-bill-usps-reform-senate-house-vote/}}</ref>

== Current operations ==

===Deliveries===
As of 2023, the Postal Service operates 33,641 Post Office and contract locations in the U.S., and delivered a total of 127.3 billion packages and pieces of mail to 164.9 million delivery points in fiscal year 2022.<ref name="USPS_SizeAndScope" />

USPS delivers mail and packages Monday through Saturday as required by the [[Postal Service Reform Act of 2022]]; on Sundays only Priority Express and packages for [[Amazon (company)|Amazon.com]] are delivered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Duryee |first=Tricia |date=July 16, 2014 |title=Amazon Sunday delivery: Key facts to know as USPS rolls out service nationally |language=en-US |newspaper=GeekWire |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/amazon-getting-packages-sunday-via-u-s-postal-service/ |url-status=live |access-date=January 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405112408/http://www.geekwire.com/2014/amazon-getting-packages-sunday-via-u-s-postal-service/ |archive-date=April 5, 2017}}</ref> The USPS delivers packages on Sundays in most major cities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-13 |title=Our Priority: Delivering for the Holidays |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/1129-usps-operation-santa-open-for-letter-adoption.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530051827/https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/1213-our-priority-delivering-for-the-holidays.htm |archive-date=2023-05-30 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=USPS |language=en}}</ref> During the four weeks preceding [[Christmas]] since 2013, packages from all mail classes and senders were delivered on Sunday in some areas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/US-Postal-Service-Deliver-Packages-on-Sundays-Before-Christmas-235869621.html|title=Postal Service to Deliver Packages on Sundays Before Christmas|date=December 14, 2013|publisher=NBC Chicago|language=en-US|access-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205181607/http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/US-Postal-Service-Deliver-Packages-on-Sundays-Before-Christmas-235869621.html|archive-date=February 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Parcels are also delivered on holidays, with the exception of [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] and Christmas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pe.usps.com/Archive/PDF/DMMArchive20070717/mailingstandards.pdf |title=Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual |author=United States Postal Service |date=July 15, 2007 |publisher=United States Postal Service |page=1070|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216125049/http://pe.usps.com/Archive/PDF/DMMArchive20070717/mailingstandards.pdf|archive-date=December 16, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=July 9, 2019}}</ref> The USPS started delivering Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day in select locations for an additional fee.<ref name=":1" />

The holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the peak period for the Postal Service,<ref name=Knudson>{{Cite news |last= Knudson |first=Annalise |title=United States Postal Service shares shipping deadlines for 2022 holiday season |work=silive |date=October 6, 2022 |url=https://www.silive.com/news/2022/10/united-states-postal-service-shares-shipping-deadlines-for-2022-holiday-season.html |access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref> representing a total volume of 11.7 billion packages and pieces of mail during this time in 2022.<ref name=McGee>{{Cite news |last=McGee |first=Caelan |title=USPS ramping up efforts to handle holiday rush |work=ABC15 News |date=November 26, 2023 |url=https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/usps-ramping-up-efforts-to-handle-holiday-rush-united-states-postal-service-packages-parcels-presents-deliveries-thanksgiving-christmas-new-years |access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>

===Fleet===
[[File:USPS-Mail-Truck.jpg|thumb|A [[Grumman LLV]], the USPS' main type of delivery truck|alt=]]
[[File:USPS Mercedes-Benz Metris Mail Truck 2021; Taylor, Michigan.jpg|thumb|USPS [[Mercedes-Benz Metris]] mail truck]]
[[File:United States Postal Service Truck.jpg|thumb|USPS two-ton truck]]
The USPS operates one of the largest civilian [[vehicle fleet]]s in the world, with over 235,000 vehicles as of 2024,<ref name="USPS_SizeAndScope" /> the majority of which are the distinctive and unique [[Chevrolet]]/[[Grumman LLV]] (long-life vehicle), and the similar, newer [[Ford-Utilimaster FFV]] ([[flexible-fuel vehicle]]), originally also referred to as the CRV (carrier route vehicle). The LLVs were built from 1987 to 1994 and lack air conditioning, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and space for the large modern volume of e-commerce packages, the Grumman fleet ended its expected 24-year lifespan in fiscal year 2017. The LLV replacement process began in 2015, and after numerous delays,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.trucks.com/2020/05/12/postal-service-delays-mail-truck-production-contract/ |title=Postal Service Delays Production Contract for New Mail Truck |date=May 12, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515092417/https://www.trucks.com/2020/05/12/postal-service-delays-mail-truck-production-contract/ |url-status=live}}</ref> a $6&nbsp;billion contract was awarded in February 2021 to [[Oshkosh Corporation|Oshkosh Defense]] to finalize design and produce 165,000 vehicles over 10 years.<ref name="LLV replacement contract">{{cite web |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0223-multi-billion-dollar-modernization-of-postal-delivery-vehicle-fleet.htm |title=U.S. Postal Service Awards Contract to Launch Multi-Billion-Dollar Modernization of Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet |website=USPS |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004111532/https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2021/0223-multi-billion-dollar-modernization-of-postal-delivery-vehicle-fleet.htm |archive-date=October 4, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Next Generation Delivery Vehicle]] (NGDV), will have both gasoline  and battery electric versions. Half of the initial 50,000 vehicles will be electric, as will all vehicles purchased after 2026.<ref>{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Matthew |date=2022-12-20 |title=Postal Service pledges move to all-electric delivery fleet |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-and-environment-a3d26d186d4b7454252a4d9eab5850f1 |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

The number of gallons of fuel used in 2009 was 444&nbsp;million, at a cost of {{USD|1.1 billion}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Postal Facts 2010 |publisher=U.S. Postal Service |year=2010 |access-date=September 28, 2010 |url=http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/_pdf/PostalFacts_03_17_2010.pdf|archive-date=July 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728023839/http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/_pdf/PostalFacts_03_17_2010.pdf}}</ref> For every penny increase in the national average price of gasoline, the USPS spends an extra {{USD|8}} million per year to fuel its fleet.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Erica |last=Johnson |url=http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/gas-prices-affecting-mail/?id=70992 |title=Gas Prices Affecting Mail |date=June 20, 2008 |publisher=Keloland Television |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419025530/http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/gas-prices-affecting-mail/?id=70992 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The fleet is notable in that many of its vehicles are [[Left- and right-hand traffic|right-hand drive]], an arrangement intended to give drivers the easiest access to roadside mailboxes. Some [[rural letter carrier]]s use personal vehicles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ohrlca.org/documents/vehicle_rhd_incentive.pdf |title=Rural Carrier – Right-Hand Drive Instructions |author=USPS |publisher=USPS |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709145609/https://www.ohrlca.org/documents/vehicle_rhd_incentive.pdf |archive-date= July 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> All contractors use personal vehicles. Standard postal-owned vehicles do not have [[license plate]]s. These vehicles are identified by a seven-digit number displayed on the front and rear.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hartzell |first=Dan |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-2009-06-22-4394651-story.html |title=Mail trucks deliver without license |date=June 22, 2009 |publisher=The Morning Call |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709151530/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-2009-06-22-4394651-story.html |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Electrifying the USPS fleet====
[[File:USPS Oshkosh NGDV - 20250721163031 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Next Generation Delivery Vehicle]] (NGDV)]]
Starting in 2026, all delivery truck purchases are scheduled to be [[electric vehicles]],<ref name="all-electric">{{cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=The Postal Service pledges to move to an all-electric delivery fleet |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/20/1144458358/postal-service-usps-electric-vehicles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418030936/https://www.npr.org/2022/12/20/1144458358/postal-service-usps-electric-vehicles |archive-date=2023-04-18 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[NPR]]}}</ref> partly in response to criticism from the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] and an environmental lawsuit,<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095481101/usps-postal-service-gas-trucks-lawsuit States sue the U.S. Postal Service over its decision to buy gas-powered trucks]</ref> and also due to availability of new funding provided by the [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022]].<ref name=WaPo3/><ref name=PoliticoEV/> The Act included $3 billion for electric USPS vehicles,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Garrison |first1=Joey |title=Postal Service to electrify fleet by 2026 as part of President Biden's climate push |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/12/20/postal-service-transition-electric-fleet-2026/10930854002/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |work=USA Today |date=20 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=WaPo3>{{cite news |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |date=December 20, 2022 |title=Postal Service will electrify trucks by 2026 in climate win for Biden |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/20/usps-ev-vehicles/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref> supporting the initiative by [[Louis DeJoy|Postmaster General DeJoy]] and the Biden Administration to add 66,000 electric vehicles to the fleet by 2028.<ref name=PoliticoEV>{{cite news |last=Fuchs |first=Hailey |date=August 13, 2023 |title=Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden's clean energy buddy |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/13/how-louis-dejoy-went-from-democratic-nightmare-fuel-to-biden-clean-energy-player-00110945 |work=Politico |access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref> The electric fleet will be composed of 9,250 EVs manufactured by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]; 11,750 [[commercial off-the-shelf]] EVs; and 45,000 [[Oshkosh NGDV|Oshkosh Next Generation Delivery Vehicles]].<ref name=CBSNewsEV>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Li |date=March 1, 2023 |title=U.S. Postal Service starts nationwide electric vehicle fleet, buying 9,250 EVs and thousands of charging stations |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-postal-service-starts-nationwide-electric-vehicle-fleet-buying-9250-evs-and-thousands-of-charging-stations/ |work=CBS News |access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref><ref name=VergeEV>{{cite news |last=Calma |first=Justine |date=January 22, 2024 |title=The US Postal Service's new EV chargers are here |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/22/24046897/usps-postal-service-electric-vehicle-charging-event |work=The Verge |access-date=February 12, 2024}}</ref> In February 2023, the Postal Service announced its purchase of the Ford EVs as well as 14,000 electric vehicle charging stations.<ref name=CBSNewsEV/><ref name=TheHillEV>{{cite news |last=Budryk |first=Zach |date=March 1, 2023 |title=USPS to purchase 9,000 electric vehicles, install 14,000 charging stations |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3879040-usps-to-purchase-9000-electric-vehicles-install-14000-charging-stations/ |work=The Hill |access-date=March 30, 2023}}</ref> The fleet electrification plan is part of the Postal Service's initiative to reduce carbon emissions from fuel and electricity 40 percent and emissions from contracted services 20 percent by 2030.<ref name=FNNSustainability>{{cite news |last=Heckman |first=Jory |date=February 6, 2024 |title=USPS outlines plan to 'aggressively' reduce carbon footprint by 2030 |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/agency-oversight/2024/02/usps-plans-to-aggressively-reduce-carbon-footprint-by-2030/ |work=Federal News Network |access-date=February 12, 2024}}</ref><ref name=PPTISustainability>{{cite news |last=King |first=Hazel |date=February 8, 2024 |title=USPS announces 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets |url=https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/sustainability/usps-announces-2030-greenhouse-gas-emissions-targets.html |work=Parcel and Postal Technology International |access-date=February 12, 2024}}</ref> The bulk of the savings comes from less expensive 'fuel' and less required maintenance. Other benefits include less pollution where children live and play.

In August 2024, the USPS deployed the first new vehicles from its fleet modernization project at its Topeka Sorting and Delivery Center in Kansas, including: an electric vehicle with higher clearance for routes delivering a high number of packages, and an electric delivery vehicle produced in partnership with [[Canoo]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Topeka Capital-Journal Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts |url=https://subscribe.cjonline.com/restricted?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cjonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2024%2F08%2F06%2Ftopeka-usps-site-gets-upgrades-that-include-electric-vehicles%2F74674340007%2F&gps-source=CPROADBLOCKDH&gca-cat=p&slug=restricted&redirect=true&gnt-eid=control |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=subscribe.cjonline.com}}</ref> that is a "pod-like" smaller van.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendez • • |first=Jasmine |date=2024-01-31 |title=Going electric: USPS fleet features pod-like vans to improve 'delivery networks' |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/going-electric-usps-fleet-features-pod-like-vans-to-improve-delivery-networks/3325931/ |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Operation and budget ==
[[File:USPS Surplus-Deficit.png|frameless|right|upright=1.5|United States Postal Service surplus/deficit]]
In [[fiscal year]] 2022, the Postal Service had $78.81 billion in revenue and expenses of $79.74 billion. Due to one-time appropriations authorized by the [[Postal Service Reform Act of 2022]], the agency reported a net income of $56.04 billion.<ref name="USPSFY22" /> In the 2023 fiscal year, revenue had increased to $79.32&nbsp;billion, but reported a net loss of $6.48&nbsp;billion.<ref name="USPSFY23" /> In the 2024 fiscal year, revenue increased to $79.53 billion but reported a net loss of $9.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2024 |title=U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2024 Results - Newsroom - About.usps.com |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2024/1114-usps-reports-fiscal-year-2024-results.htm |access-date=February 13, 2025}}</ref>

=== Revenue decline and planned cuts ===

In 2016, the USPS had its fifth straight annual operating loss, in the amount of $5.6&nbsp;billion, of which $5.8&nbsp;billion was the accrual of unpaid mandatory retiree health payments.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=United States Postal Service FY2021 Annual Report to Congress|url=https://about.usps.com/what/financials/annual-reports/fy2021.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062228/https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/financials/annual-reports/fy2016.pdf|archive-date=February 2, 2017|access-date=January 28, 2017|publisher=United States Postal Service}}</ref>

==== Declining mail volume ====
First-class mail volume peaked in 2001 to 103.65 billion declining to 52.62 billion by 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/first-class-mail-since-1926.pdf|title=First-Class Mail Volume Since 1926|access-date=July 23, 2018|date=March 2018|publisher=USPS|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212400/https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/first-class-mail-since-1926.pdf|archive-date=July 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> due to the increasing use of email and the World Wide Web for correspondence and business transactions.<ref name="amp">{{cite web| url=http://about.usps.com/streamlining-operations/area-mail-processing.htm| title=USPS – Area Mail Processing| publisher=USPS| year=2009| access-date=August 4, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923173906/http://about.usps.com/streamlining-operations/area-mail-processing.htm| archive-date=September 23, 2011| url-status=live}}</ref> 
Private courier services, such as [[FedEx]] and [[United Parcel Service]] (UPS), directly compete with USPS for the delivery of packages.

Lower volume means lower revenues to support the fixed commitment to deliver to every address once a day, six days a week. According to an official report on November 15, 2012, the U.S. Postal Service lost $15.9&nbsp;billion its 2012 fiscal year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.usps.com/publications/annual-reports/2012/|title=2012 Annual Report to Congress and Comprehensive Statement |website=about.usps.com|language=en|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418071107/http://about.usps.com/publications/annual-reports/2012/|archive-date=April 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Internal streamlining and delivery slowdown ====
In response, the USPS has increased productivity each year from 2000 to 2007,<ref name="strategicplanning">{{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt1_pg5.htm |title=Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations 2008 |publisher=USPS |year=2008 |access-date=August 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508213247/http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt1_pg5.htm |archive-date=May 8, 2009}}</ref> through increased automation, route re-optimization, and facility consolidation.<ref name="amp" /> Despite these efforts, the organization saw an $8.5&nbsp;billion budget shortfall in 2010,<ref>McElhatton, Jim [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/12/postal-service-reports-8-billion-losses/ "Postal Service Reports $8 billion in Losses"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930132830/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/12/postal-service-reports-8-billion-losses/ |date=September 30, 2011}}, ''The Washington Times'', November 12, 2010, accessed August 4, 2011.</ref> and was losing money at a rate of about $3&nbsp;billion per quarter in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacsonline.com/Magazine/PastIssues/2011/October2011/Pages/Feature3.aspx |title=NACS Magazine {{pipe}} Going Postal |publisher=Nacsonline.com |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030152926/http://www.nacsonline.com/magazine/PastIssues/2011/October2011/Pages/Feature3.aspx |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 5, 2011, the USPS announced it would close more than half of its mail processing centers, eliminate 28,000 jobs and reduce overnight delivery of First-Class Mail. This will close down 252 of its 461 processing centers.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/us/postal-service-to-delay-cutbacks-until-mid-may-staving-off-bankruptcy/ Postal Service to Delay Cutbacks Until Mid-May, Staving Off Bankruptcy], [[Fox News]]. Accessed: December 13, 2011.</ref> (At peak mail volume in 2006, the USPS operated 673 facilities.<ref name="USPS plan">{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/assets/pdf/postplan-fact-sheet-120509.pdf|access-date=September 27, 2012|title=Fact Sheet: Modified Network Realignment Plan|author=USPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522160108/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/assets/pdf/postplan-fact-sheet-120509.pdf|archive-date=May 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>) As of May 2012, the plan was to start the first round of consolidation in summer 2012, pause from September to December, and begin a second round in February 2014; 80% of first-class mail would still be delivered overnight through the end of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2012/pr12_058.htm|access-date=September 27, 2012|date=May 17, 2012|title=Postal Service Moves Ahead with Modified Network Consolidation Plan|author=USPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003052800/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2012/pr12_058.htm|archive-date=October 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> New delivery standards were issued in January 2015, and the majority of single-piece (not presorted) first-class mail is now being delivered in two days instead of one.<ref name="jan2015">{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/ofn-usps-delivery-standards-and-statistics-fact-sheet.htm |title=USPS Delivery Standards and Statistics fact sheet |publisher=USPS |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530091804/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/ofn-usps-delivery-standards-and-statistics-fact-sheet.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Large commercial mailers can still have first-class mail delivered overnight if delivered directly to a processing center in the early morning, though as of 2014 this represented only 11% of first-class mail.<ref name="jan2015" /> Unsorted first-class mail will continue to be delivered anywhere in the contiguous United States within three days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/ofn-usps-key-fact-on-network-rationalization.htm |title=Key facts on network rationalization |publisher=USPS |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530091855/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/ofn-usps-key-fact-on-network-rationalization.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Post office closures ====

In July 2011, the USPS announced a plan to close about 3,700 small post offices. Various representatives in Congress protested, and the Senate passed a bill that would have kept open all post offices farther than {{convert|10|mile|km}} from the next office.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sanburn |first=Josh |url=https://business.time.com/2013/04/12/the-post-offices-biggest-problem-isnt-saturday-delivery-its-congress/ |title=Post Office Keeps Saturday Delivery Thanks to Congress |magazine=Time Magazine |date=April 12, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525182541/http://business.time.com/2013/04/12/the-post-offices-biggest-problem-isnt-saturday-delivery-its-congress/ |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2012, the service announced it had modified its plan. Instead, rural post offices would remain open with reduced retail hours (some as little as two hours per day) unless there was a community preference for a different option.<ref name="USPS plan" /> In a survey of rural customers, 54% preferred the new plan of retaining rural post offices with reduced hours, 20% preferred the "Village Post Office" replacement (where a nearby private retail store would provide basic mail services with expanded hours), 15% preferred merger with another Post Office, and 11% preferred expanded rural delivery services.<ref name="pr12_054">{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2012/pr12_054.htm|title=New Strategy to Preserve the Nation's Smallest Post Offices|access-date=September 27, 2012|author=USPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008092117/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2012/pr12_054.htm|archive-date=October 8, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, USPS reported that approximately 40% of postal revenue comes from online purchases or private retail partners including [[Walmart]], [[Staples Inc.|Staples]], [[Office Depot]], [[Walgreens]], [[Sam's Club]], [[Costco]], and grocery stores.<ref name="pr12_054" /> The [[National Labor Relations Board]] agreed to hear the American Postal Workers Union's arguments that these counters should be staffed by postal employees who earn far more and have "a generous package of health and retirement benefits".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/us-postal-service-workers-staples-staff/story?id=21597291 |title=Unions Angered by Postal Service's Staples Outlets |last1=Hananel |first1=Sam |date=January 19, 2014 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120204828/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/us-postal-service-workers-staples-staff/story?id=21597291 |archive-date=January 20, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/08/usps-controversial-deal-with-staples-headed-to-showdown-over-legality/ |title=USPS's controversial deal with Staples headed to showdown over legality |last1=Rein |first1=Lisa |date=July 8, 2015 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104143610/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/08/usps-controversial-deal-with-staples-headed-to-showdown-over-legality/ |archive-date=November 4, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Elimination of Saturday delivery averted ====
On January 28, 2009, [[United States Postmaster General|Postmaster General]] [[John E. Potter]] testified before the Senate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/Potter.pdf |title=Postmaster General/CEO John E. Potter Before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130020740/http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/_files/Potter.pdf |archive-date=January 30, 2009}}</ref> that, if the Postal Service could not readjust its payment toward the contractually funding earned employee retiree health benefits, as mandated by the Postal Accountability & Enhancement Act of 2006,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/postallaw/_pdf/PostalServiceNetworkPlan.pdf |title=Postal Accountability & Enhancement Act of 2006 |access-date=February 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201150834/http://www.usps.com/postallaw/_pdf/PostalServiceNetworkPlan.pdf |archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref> the USPS would be forced to consider cutting delivery to five days per week during June, July, and August.

H.R. 22, addressing this issue, passed the House of Representatives and Senate and was signed into law on September 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Text of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr22/text|website=www.govtrack.us|publisher=United States Government|access-date=December 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210171057/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr22/text|archive-date=December 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Postmaster General Potter continued to advance plans to eliminate Saturday mail delivery.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Memmott |first=Mark |date=March 2, 2010 |title=Would You Miss Saturday Mail Delivery? |language=en |work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/03/saturday_mail_disappears_posta.html |access-date=September 9, 2022}}</ref>

On June 10, 2009, the [[National Rural Letter Carriers' Association]] (NRLCA) was contacted for its input on the USPS's current study of the effect of five-day delivery along with developing an implementation plan for a five-day service plan. A team of Postal Service headquarters executives and staff was given a time frame of 60 days to complete the study. The current concept examines the effect of five-day delivery with no business or collections on Saturday, with Post Offices with current Saturday hours remaining open.

On Thursday, April 15, 2010, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing to examine the status of the Postal Service and recent reports on short and long-term strategies for the financial viability and stability of the USPS entitled "Continuing to Deliver: An Examination of the Postal Service's Current Financial Crisis and its Future Viability". At which, PMG Potter testified that by 2020, the USPS cumulative losses could exceed $238&nbsp;billion, and that mail volume could drop 15 percent from 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Hearings/Committee_on_Oversight/2010/041510_Postal_Service/TESTIMONY-Potter-USPS.pdf |title=Statement of Postmaster General/CEO John E. Potter Before the Committee on Government on Oversight & Government Reform United States House of Representatives & Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia |access-date=April 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809190908/http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Hearings/Committee_on_Oversight/2010/041510_Postal_Service/TESTIMONY-Potter-USPS.pdf |archive-date=August 9, 2010}}</ref>

In February 2013, the USPS announced that in order to save about $2&nbsp;billion per year, Saturday delivery service would be discontinued except for packages, mail-order medicines, Priority Mail, Express Mail, and mail delivered to Post Office boxes, beginning August 10, 2013.<ref name="USPS No Saturday">{{cite web|title=Postal Service Announces New Delivery Schedule|url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2013/pr13_019.htm|publisher=United States Postal Service|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208165021/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2013/pr13_019.htm|archive-date=February 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CBS end Saturday">{{cite news|title=U.S. Postal Service: Saturday letter delivery to end in August|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-postal-service-saturday-letter-delivery-to-end-in-august/|newspaper=[[CBS News]]|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035352/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-postal-service-saturday-letter-delivery-to-end-in-august/|archive-date=January 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/postal-service-to-end-saturday-mail-delivery-in-bid-to-cut-costs/|title=Postal Service to end Saturday mail delivery in bid to cut costs|access-date=February 6, 2013|work=[[Fox News]]|date=February 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035352/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/06/postal-service-to-cut-saturday-mail-to-trim-costs.html|archive-date=January 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the [[Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013]], passed in March, reversed the cuts to Saturday delivery.<ref name="about.usps.com">{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2013/pr13_0410bogstatement.htm|title=Statement from the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors|date=April 10, 2013|access-date=April 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141257/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2013/pr13_0410bogstatement.htm|archive-date=April 13, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Retirement funding and payment defaults ===
The [[Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act]] of 2006 (PAEA)<ref name="law_text">{{cite web|title=Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-108publ18/pdf/PLAW-108publ18.pdf|access-date=April 26, 2012|date=April 23, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042354/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-108publ18/pdf/PLAW-108publ18.pdf|archive-date=November 1, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> obligated the USPS to fund the present value of earned retirement obligations (essentially past promises which have not yet come due) within a ten-year time span.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barro |first=Josh |url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2012-08-02/understanding-the-post-office-s-benefits-mess |title=Understanding the Post Office's Benefits Mess |newspaper=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |publisher=Bloomberg View |date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525184632/http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2012-08-02/understanding-the-post-office-s-benefits-mess |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[U.S. Office of Personnel Management]] (OPM) is the main bureaucratic organization responsible for the human resources aspect of many federal agencies and their employees. The PAEA created the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefit Fund (PSRHB) after Congress removed the Postal Service contribution to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).{{clarify|date=December 2021}}<!-- How does this relate to the FERS? Are some former employees on one system and others on another? --> Most other employees that contribute to the CSRS have 7% deducted from their wages. Currently, all new employees{{which|date=December 2021}}<!-- USPS employees? --> contribute into Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) once they become a full-time regular employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c030.pdf|title=CSRS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511195413/http://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c030.pdf|archive-date=May 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Running low on cash, in order to continue operations unaffected and continue to meet payroll, the USPS defaulted for the first time on a $5.5 billion retirement benefits payment due August 1, 2012, and a $5.6 billion payment due September 30, 2012.<ref name="npr.org"/>

On September 30, 2014, the USPS failed to make a $5.7&nbsp;billion payment on this debt, the fourth such default.<ref name="auto1"/> In 2017, the USPS defaulted on some of the last lump-sum payments required by the 2006 law, though other payments were also still required.<ref name="govexec.com"/>

Proposals to cancel the funding obligation and plan a new schedule for the debt were introduced in Congress as early as 2016.<ref name="auto2"/> A 2019 bill entitled the "USPS Fairness Act", which would have eliminated the pension funding obligation, passed the House but did not proceed further.<ref name="auto"/> As of March 8, 2022, the [[Postal Service Reform Act of 2022]], which includes a section entitled "USPS Fairness Act" cancelling the obligation, has passed both the House and the Senate;<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maloney |first1=Carolyn B. |title=Text – H.R.3076 – 117th Congress (2021–2022): Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3076/text#toc-HB830A11DFBE64D6BA4B9AF77ABBDBD12 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Paul |title=What the USPS overhaul bill means for you |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/politics/usps-reform-act-explainer/index.html |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=[[CNN]]|date=March 8, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315004800/https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/politics/usps-reform-act-explainer/index.html |archive-date= March 15, 2022 }}</ref> President [[Joe Biden]] signed the bill into law on April 6, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Biden Signs Postal Service Reform Bill Into Law—Here's What It Means For Your Mail |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2022/04/06/biden-signs-postal-service-reform-into-law-heres-what-it-means-for-your-mail/ |date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220406213855/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2022/04/06/biden-signs-postal-service-reform-into-law-heres-what-it-means-for-your-mail/|archive-date= April 6, 2022 }}</ref>

=== Rate increases ===
Congress has limited rate increases for First-Class Mail to the cost of inflation, unless approved by the [[Postal Regulatory Commission]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Pence|first=Herbert|title=Congress didn't do US Postal Service any favors|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinionperspectives/939126-263/congress-didnt-do-us-postal-service-any.html|access-date=March 25, 2012|newspaper=Nashua Telegraph|date=November 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125220/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinionperspectives/939126-263/congress-didnt-do-us-postal-service-any.html|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead }}</ref> A three-cent surcharge above inflation increased the {{convert|1|oz|abbr=on}} rate to 49¢ in January 2014, but this was approved by the commission for two years only.<ref name="usatoday1">{{cite news |first=Bradley |last=Klapper |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/24/usps-stamps-mail-price/4195827/ |title=First-class stamps to cost 49 cents as of Jan. 26 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812110100/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/24/usps-stamps-mail-price/4195827/ |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> As of July 13, 2025 the cost of postage increased to 78 cents for first class mail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Postal Service Recommends New Prices for July 2025 - Newsroom - About.usps.com |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/0409-usps-recommends-new-prices-for-july-2025.htm |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=about.usps.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Reform proposals and delivery changes ===

==== During the Obama administration ====
[[File:USPS Mailbox.jpg|thumb|A USPS Mailbox]]
Comprehensive reform packages considered in the [[113th Congress]] include S.1486<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1486/text |title=Text – S.1486 – 113th Congress (2013–2014): Postal Reform Act of 2014 |publisher=US Congress |date=July 31, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016081958/https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1486/text |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and H.R.2748.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2748/text |title=Text – H.R.2748 – 113th Congress (2013–2014): Postal Reform Act of 2013 |publisher=US Congress |date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016081958/https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2748/text |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> These include the efficiency measure, supported by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Miga |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/02/usps-suggests-lifting-alcohol-delivery-ban/ |title=USPS suggests lifting alcohol delivery ban |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525012741/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/02/usps-suggests-lifting-alcohol-delivery-ban/ |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> of ending door-to-door delivery of mail for some or most of the 35&nbsp;million addresses that currently receive it, replacing that with either curbside boxes or nearby "cluster boxes". This would save $4.5&nbsp;billion per year out of the $30&nbsp;billion delivery budget; door-to-door city delivery costs annually on average $353 per stop, curbside $224, and cluster box $160 (and for rural delivery, $278, $176, and $126, respectively).<ref>{{cite news |last=Liberto |first=Jennifer |url=https://money.cnn.com/2013/07/23/news/economy/postal-home-delivery/index.html?iid=EL |title=Postal Service moving away from at-your-door delivery |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016081957/http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/23/news/economy/postal-home-delivery/index.html?iid=EL |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.savethepostoffice.com/postal-service-delivers-last-mile-almost-changing-modes-delivery |title=The Postal Service delivers the last mile, almost: Changing modes of delivery |publisher=Save the Post Office |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615054648/http://www.savethepostoffice.com/postal-service-delivers-last-mile-almost-changing-modes-delivery |archive-date=June 15, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

S.1486,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/206532203/S-1486-Postal-Reform-Act-of-2014 |title=S 1486 – Postal Reform Act of 2014 |publisher=Scribd.com |date=August 1, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609072328/https://www.scribd.com/doc/206532203/S-1486-Postal-Reform-Act-of-2014 |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> also with the support of Postmaster General Donahoe,<ref name="hpo">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Miga |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/postal-service-alcohol-usps-deliveries_n_3695830.html |title=U.S. Postal Service Wants To Deliver Alcohol To Your Doorstep |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609024846/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/postal-service-alcohol-usps-deliveries_n_3695830.html |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> would also allow the USPS to ship alcohol in compliance with state law, from manufacturers to recipients with ID to show they are over 21. This is projected to raise approximately $50&nbsp;million per year.<ref name="hpo" /> (Shipping alcoholic beverages is currently illegal under {{usc|18|1716}}(f).)

In 2014, the Postal Service was requesting reforms to workers' compensation, moving from a pension to defined contribution retirement savings plan, and paying senior retiree health care costs out of [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] funds, as is done for private-sector workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_016.htm |title=U.S. Postal Service Testifies Before Congress Urging Elimination of Unfunded Liabilities |publisher=USPS |date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608020201/http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2014/pr14_016.htm |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== During the first Trump administration ====

As part of a June 2018 governmental reorganization plan, the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Donald Trump administration]] proposed turning USPS into "a private postal operator" which could save costs through measures like delivering mail fewer days per week, or delivering to central locations instead of door to door. There was strong bipartisan opposition to the idea in Congress.<ref name=privatize />

In April 2020, Congress approved a $10 billion loan from the Treasury to the post office. According to ''The Washington Post'', officials under Treasury Secretary [[Steven Mnuchin]] suggested using the loan as leverage to give the Treasury Department more influence on USPS operations, including making them raise their charges for package deliveries, a change long sought by President Trump.<ref name="WaPo_Bogage_20200423">{{cite news |issn=0190-8286 |last1=Bogage |first1=Jacob |last2=Rein |first2=Lisa |title=Trump administration considers leveraging emergency coronavirus loan to force Postal Service changes |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 15, 2020 |date=April 23, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/23/10-billion-treasury-loan-usps/ |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820103232/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/23/10-billion-treasury-loan-usps/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2020, the [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service]] appointed [[Louis DeJoy]] as Postmaster General. DeJoy was the first appointee in two decades to come from outside the postal service. Prior to the appointment, he was the founder and [[CEO]] of the logistics and freight company [[XPO Logistics|New Breed Logistics]] and was a major [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] donor and fundraiser for [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=DeJoy donated nearly $700,000 to Trump's convention, new filings show|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/10/politics/louis-dejoy-trump-rnc-donation/index.html|access-date=2020-10-10|website=[[CNN]] NEWS|date=October 10, 2020|language=en|archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424120605/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/10/politics/louis-dejoy-trump-rnc-donation/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

DeJoy immediately began taking measures to reduce costs, such as banning overtime and extra trips to deliver mail.<ref>{{cite web|last=Katz|first=Eric|date=July 20, 2020|title=Looking to Cut Costs, New USPS Leader Takes Aim at Overtime and Late Trips|url=https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/07/looking-cut-costs-new-usps-leader-takes-aim-overtime-and-late-trips/166917/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727174300/https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2020/07/looking-cut-costs-new-usps-leader-takes-aim-overtime-and-late-trips/166917/|archive-date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=July 27, 2020|website=Government Executive|language=en}}</ref><ref name="NYT_Broadwater_20200815">{{cite news |issn=0362-4331 |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Healy |first2=Jack |last3=Shear |first3=Michael D. |last4=Fuchs |first4=Hailey |title=Postal Crisis Ripples Across Nation as Election Looms |work=The New York Times |access-date=August 15, 2020 |date=August 15, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/15/us/post-office-vote-by-mail.html |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816201415/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/15/us/post-office-vote-by-mail.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WaPo_Bogage_20200714">{{cite news |issn=0190-8286 |last=Bogage |first=Jacob |title=Postal Service memos detail 'difficult' changes, including slower mail delivery |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 15, 2020 |date=July 14, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/ |archive-date=August 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814145955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/ |url-status=live}}</ref> While DeJoy admitted that these measures were causing [[2020 United States Postal Service crisis|delays in mail delivery]], he said they would eventually improve service.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Amy|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|last3=Kane|first3=Paul|date=August 13, 2020|title=Trump opposes election aid for states and Postal Service bailout, threatening Nov. 3 vote|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mail-voting/2020/08/13/3eb9ac62-dd70-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html?|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816204722/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mail-voting/2020/08/13/3eb9ac62-dd70-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

More than 600 high-speed mail sorting machines were scheduled to be dismantled and removed from postal facilities,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7wk9z/the-post-office-is-deactivating-mail-sorting-machines-ahead-of-the-election|title=The Post Office Is Deactivating Mail Sorting Machines Ahead of the Election|last=Gordon|first=Aaron|date=August 13, 2020|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816131447/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7wk9z/the-post-office-is-deactivating-mail-sorting-machines-ahead-of-the-election|url-status=live}}</ref> raising concerns that mailed ballots for the [[2020 United States presidential election|November 3 election]] might not reach election offices on time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/13/us-postal-service-whats-going-post-office-what-we-know/3360565001/|title=What's going on with the post office? Here's what we know|last=Behrmann|first=Savannah|date=August 13, 2020|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815164407/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/13/us-postal-service-whats-going-post-office-what-we-know/3360565001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mail collection boxes were removed from the streets in many cities; after photos of boxes being removed were spread on social media, a postal service spokesman said they were being moved to higher traffic areas but that the removals would stop until after the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/14/people-are-freaking-out-about-mailbox-removals-postal-service-says-its-routine/|title=Postal Service will stop removing mailboxes|last=Bogage|first=Jacob|date=August 14, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 15, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816202417/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/14/people-are-freaking-out-about-mailbox-removals-postal-service-says-its-routine/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The inspector general for the postal service opened an investigation into the recent changes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-postal-service-inspector-general-investigating-changes-post-offices/|title=U.S. Postal Service inspector general is investigating changes at post offices|last=Segers|first=Grace|date=August 15, 2020|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=August 15, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815160222/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-postal-service-inspector-general-investigating-changes-post-offices/|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 16 the House of Representatives was called back from its summer recess to consider a bill rolling back all of the changes.<ref name=Pelosi>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/us/politics/coronavirus-postal-service-stimulus-bill.html|title=Pelosi to Recall House for Postal Service Vote as Democrats Press for DeJoy to Testify|last1=Cochrane|first1=Emily|last2=Edmondson|first2=Catie|date=August 16, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 17, 2020|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817005620/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/us/politics/coronavirus-postal-service-stimulus-bill.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 18, 2020, after days of heavy criticism and the day after lawsuits against the Postal Service and DeJoy personally were filed in federal court by several individuals,<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Wallace|first1=Danielle|last2=Mears|first2=Bill|date=August 17, 2020|title=First in expected flood of lawsuits against USPS, Trump filed in NY federal court|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/postal-service-usps-lawsuit-dejoy-testify-congress|access-date=August 17, 2020|work=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817220726/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/postal-service-usps-lawsuit-dejoy-testify-congress|url-status=live}}</ref> DeJoy announced that he would roll back all the changes until after the November election. He said he would reinstate overtime hours, roll back service reductions, and halt the removal of mail-sorting machines and collection boxes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-will-hold-postal-service-hearing-with-dejoy-on-friday-as-mail-delay-fears-grow/2020/08/18/5f978e76-e14f-11ea-8dd2-d07812bf00f7_story.html|title=Postmaster general announces he is 'suspending' policies that were blamed for causing mail delays|last=Bogage|first=Jacob|date=August 18, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 18, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818190834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-will-hold-postal-service-hearing-with-dejoy-on-friday-as-mail-delay-fears-grow/2020/08/18/5f978e76-e14f-11ea-8dd2-d07812bf00f7_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> However, 95 percent of the mail sorting machines that were planned for removal had already been removed,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gordon|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2020|title=DeJoy's USPS Policy Rollbacks Don't Appear to Change Much|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xg8kwk/usps-policy-change-rollbacks-postmaster-general-dejoy|access-date=August 20, 2020|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|language=en|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819235129/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xg8kwk/usps-policy-change-rollbacks-postmaster-general-dejoy|url-status=live}}</ref> and according to [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]], DeJoy said he has no intention of replacing them or the mail collection boxes.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pelosi|first=Nancy|date=August 19, 2020|title=Earlier today, I spoke with Postmaster General DeJoy regarding his alleged pause in operational changes. During our conversation, he admitted he has no intention of replacing the sorting machines, blue mailboxes and other infrastructure that have been removed.|url=https://twitter.com/speakerpelosi/status/1296148989646188546|access-date=August 20, 2020|website=[[Twitter]]|language=en|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050901/https://twitter.com/speakerpelosi/status/1296148989646188546|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 27, 2020, the [[Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021|Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021]] forgave the previous $10 billion loan.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Highlights of $900 billion COVID-19 relief, wrapup bills |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-care-reform-health-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-762f84e4da11d350d8b5be5680ab01c4 |url-status=live |work=[[The Associated Press]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120152122/https://apnews.com/article/health-care-reform-health-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-762f84e4da11d350d8b5be5680ab01c4 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref>

=== Coronavirus pandemic and voting by mail ===
{{See also|2020 United States Postal Service crisis}}

Voting by mail has become an increasingly common practice in the United States, with 25% of voters nationwide mailing their ballots in 2016 and 2018. The [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]] of 2020 was predicted to cause a large increase in mail voting because of the possible danger of congregating at polling places.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/06/15/coronavirus-pandemic-makes-mail-voting-even-more-important-editorials-debates/5336826002/|title=Coronavirus makes voting by mail even more important|date=June 15, 2020|work=[[USA Today]]|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816135016/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/todaysdebate/2020/06/15/coronavirus-pandemic-makes-mail-voting-even-more-important-editorials-debates/5336826002/|url-status=live}}</ref> For the 2020 election, a state-by-state analysis concluded that 76% of Americans were eligible to vote by mail in 2020, a record number. The analysis predicted that 80 million ballots could be cast by mail in 2020 – more than double the number in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/11/us/politics/vote-by-mail-us-states.html|title=A Record 76% of Americans Can Vote by Mail in 2020|date=August 14, 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816185758/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/08/11/us/politics/vote-by-mail-us-states.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Postal Service sent letters to 46 states in July 2020, warning that the service might not be able to meet each state's deadlines for requesting and casting last-minute absentee ballots.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usps-warns-46-states-cannot-guarantee-mail-in-ballots-will-arrive-in-time-for-election|title=USPS warns 46 states it cannot guarantee mail-in ballots will arrive in time for election|last=Phillips|first=Morgan|date=August 14, 2020|work=[[Fox News]]|access-date=August 15, 2020|archive-date=August 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816235657/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usps-warns-46-states-cannot-guarantee-mail-in-ballots-will-arrive-in-time-for-election|url-status=live}}</ref> The House of Representatives voted to include an emergency grant of $25 billion to the post office to facilitate the predicted flood of mail ballots,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/13/902109991/trump-admits-to-opposing-funding-for-postal-service-to-block-more-voting-by-mail|title=Trump Opposes Postal Service Funding But Says He'd Sign Bill Including It|last=Sprunt|first=Barbara|date=August 13, 2020|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823073156/https://www.npr.org/2020/08/13/902109991/trump-admits-to-opposing-funding-for-postal-service-to-block-more-voting-by-mail|url-status=live}}</ref> but the bill never reached the Senate floor for a vote.<ref name=USCongress20>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4174 |title=S.4174 – Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act |date=July 2, 2020 |website=Congress.gov |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name=TCI21>{{cite news |last=Mazzenga |first=David |date=January 22, 2021 |title=Commissioners seek remedy to postal delays |url=https://www.tricountyindependent.com/story/news/2021/01/22/county-officials-ask-congress-solve-mail-delay/4173065001/ |work=Tri-County Independent |access-date=March 2, 2023}}</ref>

A March 2021 report from the Postal Service's inspector general found that the vast majority of mail-in ballots and registration materials in the 2020 election were delivered to the relevant authorities on time.<ref name=NPR21>{{cite news |last=Naylor |first=Brian |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Postal Service Delivered Vast Majority Of Mail Ballots On Time, Report Finds |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/03/09/975198962/postal-service-delivered-vast-majority-of-mail-ballots-on-time-report-finds |work=[[NPR]] |access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref><ref name=USPS21>{{cite web |url=https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2021/20-318-R21.pdf |title=Service Performance of Election and Political Mail During the November 2020 General Election |date=March 5, 2021 |website=USPS Office of Inspector General |access-date=December 5, 2022 |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208214155/https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2021/20-318-R21.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Postal Service handled approximately 135 million pieces of election-related mail between September 1 and November 3, delivering 97.9% of ballots from voters to election officials within three days, and 99.89% of ballots within seven days.<ref name=NPR21/><ref name=AP22>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=July 28, 2022 |title=New USPS election division will oversee mail-in ballots |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-united-states-presidential-election-2020-294f320df8a6ff9451888ae2778b1a06 |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=December 5, 2022}}</ref>

====COVID-19 test kits to Americans====
{{ main | COVIDtests.gov }}

Postmaster General DeJoy helped the USPS deliver approximately 380 million home test kits from January 2022 through May 2022.<ref name="Time23">{{cite news |last=Cortelessa |first=Eric |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Louis DeJoy's Surprising Second Act |url=https://time.com/6263424/louis-dejoy-trump-election-postal-reform/ |work=Time Magazine |access-date=May 29, 2024 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410042233/https://time.com/6263424/louis-dejoy-trump-election-postal-reform/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=FNN22>{{cite news |last=Heckman |first=Jory |date=May 30, 2022 |title=How USPS pulled off delivering 380 million COVID-19 tests |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2022/05/we-rocked-it-how-usps-pulled-off-delivering-380-million-covid-19-tests/ |work=Federal News Network |access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref> As of March 2024, when the program concluded, the USPS had delivered over 1.8 billion free COVID-19 test kits.<ref name=Hauari>{{Cite news| last = Hauari| first = Gabe| title = Free COVID tests: Why you can no longer order through government program via USPS delivery| work = USA Today| date = March 8, 2024| url = https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2024/03/08/covid-test-kits-free-government-program-usps-ends/72893381007/ |access-date=May 29, 2024}}</ref>

In September 2024, the distribution of free at-home COVID-19 tests was re-started.<ref>
{{cite news |last=Tyko |first=Kelly
|url=https://www.axios.com/2024/08/23/free-covid-test-kits-return-september-2024-usps
|title=Free at-home COVID test program to resume in September |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=2024-08-23 |access-date=2024-08-23
}}
</ref><ref>
[https://special.usps.com/testkits "Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests"].
</ref>

=== Delivering for America reform plan ===
In March 2021, the Postal Service launched a 10-year reform plan called Delivering for America, intended to improve the agency's financial stability, service reliability, and operational efficiency.<ref name="Yahoo23">{{cite news |last=Coleman |first=Kali |date=January 18, 2023 |title=USPS Is Making Even More Changes to Your Mail, as of Sunday |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/usps-making-even-more-changes-214631927.html |access-date=March 22, 2023 |work=Yahoo |archive-date=January 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122000349/https://www.yahoo.com/now/usps-making-even-more-changes-214631927.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="LocalNBC21">{{cite news |last=Wilkerson |first=Rachel |date=March 24, 2021 |title=United States Postal Service to implement changes |url=https://mynbc15.com/news/local/united-states-postal-service-to-implement-changes |access-date=March 22, 2023 |work=WPMI}}</ref> The plan includes $40 billion in investments meant to improve USPS technology and facilities.<ref name="PPTI23Investment">{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Elizabeth |date=September 20, 2023 |title=USPS to hire 10,000 seasonal employees to prepare for the holidays |url=https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/operations/usps-to-hire-10000-seasonal-employees-to-prepare-for-the-holidays.html |access-date=September 25, 2023 |work=Parcel & Postal Technology International}}</ref> In April 2022, the [[Postal Service Reform Act of 2022]] was signed into law.<ref name="Time23" /> It lifted financial burdens placed on the USPS by the 2006 [[Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act]].<ref name="USAToday22PSRA">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Ella |date=April 6, 2022 |title=USPS gets a financial overhaul: Here's what we know about the Postal Service Reform Act |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/06/usps-reform-act-what-to-know/9482162002/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |work=USA Today}}</ref>

As part of Delivering for America, the Postal Service has introduced three new parcel shipping offerings: USPS Connect in June 2022,<ref name="DCN22">{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Erica |date=April 12, 2022 |title=U.S. Postal Service rolls out USPS Connect in Georgia |url=https://www.dawsonnews.com/news/business/us-postal-service-rolls-out-usps-connect-georgia-expands-next-day-delivery-options-businesses/ |access-date=March 22, 2023 |work=Dawson County News}}</ref> USPS Ground Advantage in July 2023,<ref name="PPTI23">{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Elizabeth |date=July 19, 2023 |title=USPS launches Ground Advantage shipping offering |url=https://www.parcelandpostaltechnologyinternational.com/news/delivery/usps-launches-ground-advantage-shipping-offering.html |access-date=July 19, 2023 |work=Parcel And Postal Technology International}}</ref> and Priority Next Day in March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USPS Priority Next Day launches in 54 markets {{!}} Supply Chain Dive |url=https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/usps-priority-next-day-launches-in-54-markets/741290/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.supplychaindive.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It has also installed 348 new package sorting machines within its facilities.<ref name="PPTI23Investment" /> As of September 2023, the Postal Service is able to process approximately 70 million packages per day,<ref name="PPTI23Investment" /> up from 53 million in 2021,<ref name="DCVelocityFrantz">{{cite news |last=Frantz |first=Gary |date=November 1, 2022 |title=Shippers back in the driver's seat as parcel market growth softens |url=https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/55864-shippers-back-in-the-drivers-seat-as-parcel-market-growth-softens |access-date=September 20, 2023 |work=DC Velocity}}</ref> and 60 million in 2022.<ref name="Reuters23">{{cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=April 27, 2023 |title=U.S. Postal Service shrinks forecast losses as it raises prices |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/us-postal-service-shrinks-forecast-losses-it-hikes-prices-2023-04-27/ |access-date=May 22, 2023 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

The USPS announced in July 2022 that it would be building 60 new regional processing and distribution centers in order to replace smaller, redundant facilities.<ref name="GovExec22">{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Eric |date=July 5, 2022 |title=This Is Where USPS Is Building Out Its First Mega-Centers This Year |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2022/07/see-where-usps-building-out-its-first-mega-centers-year/368961 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |work=Government Executive}}</ref> One of the first of these facilities, a 700,000-square-foot building in [[Gastonia, North Carolina]], opened in November 2023.<ref name="CharlotteObserver23">{{cite news |last1=Muccigrosso |first1=Catherine |last2=Nikouyeh |first2=Khadejeh |date=November 14, 2023 |title=USPS opens one of the first mega-regional distribution centers near Charlotte |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article281350673.html |access-date=November 14, 2023 |work=Charlotte Observer}}</ref>

In an effort to stabilize its workforce, the Postal Service converted 150,000 of its pre-career workers into full-time employees between October 2020 and September 2023.<ref name="PPTI23Investment" /><ref name="FNNConversion">{{cite news |last=Heckman |first=Jory |date=September 19, 2023 |title=USPS ends peak holiday surcharge as it cuts year-end demand for temporary hires |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/hiring-retention/2023/09/usps-ends-peak-holiday-surcharge-as-it-cuts-year-end-demand-for-temporary-hires/ |access-date=September 19, 2023 |work=Federal News Network}}</ref>

Delivering for America has attempted to stabilize the Postal Service's finances by adjusting service times for mail and package delivery.<ref name="NPRServiceTimes">{{cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Why your USPS mail package delivery is about to get slower |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/21/1094011233/mail-usps-slower-packages |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=National Public Radio}}</ref> In 2020, the [[Postal Regulatory Commission]] gave the Postal Service increased authority to raise postage rates in order to cover its operating costs.<ref name="GoveExecPRCruling">{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Eric |date=November 30, 2020 |title=Regulator Finalizes Plan to Enable Larger USPS Rate Hikes |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2020/11/regulator-finalizes-plan-enable-larger-usps-rate-hikes/170371/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=GovExec}}</ref>  Between 2021 and 2023, USPS has raised the postage rate four times.<ref name="CBSRateHikes">{{cite news |last=Picchi |first=Aimee |date=October 9, 2023 |title=USPS proposes 5th postage hike since 2021 — a move critics call "unprecedented" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-postage-rate-hike-january-2024-unprecedented/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |work=CBS News}}</ref> In May 2023, USPS reported a $2.5 billion loss over the year's first quarter, with approximately $500 million of that figure related to costs within the agency's control.<ref name="GocExecQ123">{{cite news |last=Katz |first=Eric |date=May 10, 2023 |title=DeJoy Promises His USPS Plan Will Still Deliver, Despite Disappointing Numbers So Far |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2023/05/dejoy-promises-his-usps-plan-will-still-deliver-despite-disappointing-numbers-so-far/386192/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |work=GovExec}}</ref> It also reported that its projected ten-year losses had been reduced from $160 billion to $70 billion.<ref name="FNNLossesCut">{{cite news |last=Heckman |first=Jory |date=May 25, 2023 |title=DeJoy rebuffs USPS regulator considering more 'proactive' role in postal oversight |url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2023/05/dejoy-rebuffs-usps-regulator-looking-into-agencys-dramatic-changes-to-cut-costs/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |work=Federal News Network}}</ref>

In February 2025, the Postal Service announced new service standards for first-class mail, periodicals, marketing mail, and package services. These new standards, which include allowing postal workers to travel a greater distance for deliveries and replacing three-digit regional zip code add-ons with five-digit ones, are intended to improve delivery network reliability and save the agency approximately $36 billion between 2025 and 2035.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=February 26, 2025 |title=US Postal Service adopts new service standards to save $36 billion over 10 years |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-postal-service-adopts-new-service-standards-save-36-billion-over-10-years-2025-02-26/ |access-date=March 4, 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Higham |first=Aliss |date=February 27, 2025 |title=USPS Announces Changes To First-Class Mail, Other Services |url=https://www.newsweek.com/usps-changes-first-class-mail-services-36-billion-savings-10-years-donald-trump-2037058 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |work=Newsweek}}</ref>

== Governance and organization ==

The [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service]] sets policy, procedure, and postal rates for services rendered. It has a similar role to a corporate board of directors. Of the eleven members of the Board, nine are appointed by the president and confirmed by the [[U.S. Senate]] (see {{usc|39|202}}). The nine appointed members then select the [[United States Postmaster General|United States postmaster general]], who serves as the board's tenth member, and who oversees the day-to-day activities of the service as chief executive officer (see {{usc|39|202|203}}). The ten-member board then nominates a deputy postmaster general, who acts as chief operating officer, to the eleventh and last remaining open seat.

The independent [[Postal Regulatory Commission]] (formerly the Postal Rate Commission) is also controlled by appointees of the president confirmed by the Senate. It oversees postal rates and related concerns, having the authority to approve or reject USPS proposals.

The USPS is often mistaken for a [[state-owned enterprise]] or [[government-owned corporation]] (e.g., [[Amtrak]]) because it operates much like a business. It is, however, an "establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States", ({{usc|39|201}}) as it is controlled by presidential appointees and the postmaster general. As a [[government agency]], it has many special privileges, including [[sovereign immunity]], [[eminent domain]] powers, powers to negotiate [[Universal Postal Union|postal treaties]] with foreign nations, and an exclusive legal right to deliver first-class and third-class mail. Indeed, in 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision "The Postal Service is not subject to antitrust liability. In both form and function, it is not a separate antitrust person from the United States but is part of the Government, and so is not controlled by the antitrust laws" such as the [[Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890]].<ref>''United States Postal Serv. v. Flamingo Indus. (USA) Ltd.'', {{ussc|540|736|2004}}.</ref> Unlike a state-owned enterprise, the USPS lacks a transparent ownership structure and is not subject to standard rules and norms that apply to commercial entities. The USPS also lacks commercial discretion and control.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Crew|first1= Michael A.|last2= Brennan|first2= Timothy J|date= 2014|title= The Role of the Postal and Delivery Sector in a Digital Age|publisher= Edward Elgar Pub|page= 16|isbn= 978-1-78254-633-7|quote= Misconceptions surround the United States Postal Service's (USPS) current organizational structure...USPS, although clearly a federally owned entity, is not a state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the sense that this term is normally understood in the United States and in other advanced economies. It is instead an independent government organization (IGO) within the federal government, and thus lacks standard attributes of an SOE.}}</ref>

{{usc|18|1725}} creates a statutory monopoly on access to letter boxes by authorizing the federal government to impose fines against anyone who "knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter" in such letter boxes "on which no postage has been paid".  The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld this monopoly against a [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] [[Freedom of speech in the United States|freedom of speech]] challenge; it thus remains illegal in the U.S. for anyone, other than the employees and agents of the USPS, to deliver mail pieces to letter boxes marked "U.S. Mail".<ref>''United States Postal Serv. v. Greenburgh Civic Ass'ns'', {{ussc|453|114|1981}}.</ref>

The Postal Service also has a Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee and local Postal Customer Councils, which are advisory and primarily involve business customers.<ref>[http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt2_pg10.htm USPS.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509040715/http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt2_pg10.htm |date=May 9, 2009}}. USPS.com (September 17, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

The USPS assigns city names to various postal addresses; these assignments do not always correspond with municipal boundaries. Mailing address names may stay the same even if city boundaries change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|title=City of Houston Annexation FAQ|publisher=[[Houston|City of Houston]]|date=October 31, 1996|access-date=August 3, 2022|quote=The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses[...]|archive-date=October 31, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961031170034/http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/annexation/annexation_FAQ.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

=== Funding and privatization proposals ===
Since the Postal Reorganization Act came into effect in 1971, the USPS has     been mandated to be self-financing and rely solely on revenue from stamps     and package deliveries to support itself.<ref name=Effron>{{Cite news| last = Effron| first = Oliver| title = Why the US Postal Service is in deep financial trouble| work = CNN Business| date = October 6, 2020|     access-date = June 10, 2024| url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/06/business/congress-usps-funding-problems/index.html}}</ref><ref name="PBS 5 things">{{cite web |date=November 13, 2011 |title=The U.S. Postal Service; PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/five-things/the-u-s-postal-service/11433/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014091138/https://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/five-things/the-u-s-postal-service/11433/ |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2013 |publisher=PBS}}</ref> In 1982, postal stamps were changed to be categorized as products rather than a form of taxation, and since then, the Postal Service has no longer received taxpayer funding.<ref name=Effron/>

Since the 1990s, Republicans have been discussing the idea of privatizing the U.S. Postal Service.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0207/07014.html|title=Republicans Eye US Postal Service For Privatization Push|last=Popiel|first=Leslie Albrecht|date=February 7, 1995|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017111006/https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0207/07014.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, President Trump criticized the postal service's relationship with Amazon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2017/12/29/trump-criticizes-the-postal-service-for-charging-amazon-so-little/#570173e82c46|last=Banker|first=Steve|date=December 29, 2017|title=President Trump, Here's Why The Postal Service Is Charging Amazon 'So Little'|magazine=[[Forbes]]|access-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031215510/https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2017/12/29/trump-criticizes-the-postal-service-for-charging-amazon-so-little/#570173e82c46|archive-date=October 31, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Amazon maintains that the Postal Service makes a profit from their contract.<ref name="nyt-fact-check">Gold, Michael, and Katie Rogers (March 29, 2018).  [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/us/politics/trump-amazon-post-office-fact-check.html "The Facts Behind Trump's Tweets on Amazon, Taxes and the Postal Service."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621000623/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/us/politics/trump-amazon-post-office-fact-check.html |date=June 21, 2019}}  ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved November 9, 2019.</ref> Trump's administration proposed turning USPS into "a private postal operator" as part of a June 2018 governmental reorganization plan, although there was strong bipartisan opposition to the idea in Congress.<ref name="privatize">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/24/congressional-opposition-trumps-postal-cuts-privatization-plan-grows/|title=Congressional opposition to Trump's postal cuts, privatization plan grows|last=Davidson|first=Joe|date=September 24, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814123957/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/24/congressional-opposition-trumps-postal-cuts-privatization-plan-grows/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Universal service obligation and monopoly status ==
=== Legal basis and rationale ===
[[Postal Clause|Article I, section 8, Clause 7]] of the [[U.S. Constitution]] grants Congress the power to establish post offices and post roads,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript|title=The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription|date=November 4, 2015|newspaper=National Archives|language=en|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131000136/https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript|archive-date=January 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> which has been interpreted as a de facto Congressional monopoly over the delivery of first-class residential mail—which has been defined as non-urgent residential letters (not packages). Accordingly, no other system for delivering first-class residential mail—public or private—has been tolerated, absent Congress's consent. The mission of the Postal Service is to provide the American public with trusted universal postal service. While not explicitly defined, the Postal Service's [[universal service obligation]] (USO) is broadly outlined in statute and includes multiple dimensions: geographic scope, range of products, access to services and facilities, delivery frequency, affordable and uniform pricing, service quality, and security of the mail. While other carriers may claim to voluntarily provide delivery on a broad basis, the Postal Service is the only carrier with a ''legal obligation'' to provide all the various aspects of universal service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.usps.com/universal-postal-service/usps-uso-executive-summary.pdf|title=Mission statement|website=about.usps.com|access-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412172323/https://about.usps.com/universal-postal-service/usps-uso-executive-summary.pdf|archive-date=April 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Proponents of universal service principles claim that since any obligation must be matched by the financial capability to meet that obligation, the postal monopoly was put in place as a funding mechanism for the USO, and it has been in place for over a hundred years. It consists of two parts: the [[Private Express Statutes]] (PES) and the mailbox access rule. The PES refer to the Postal Service's monopoly on the delivery of letters, and the mailbox rule refers to the Postal Service's exclusive access to customer mailboxes.<ref name="2008 USO Postal Monopoly report">{{cite web|url=https://about.usps.com/universal-postal-service/usps-uso-report.pdf|title=Report On Universal Postal Service and The Postal Monopoly|publisher=USPS|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161219020753/http://about.usps.com/universal-postal-service/usps-uso-report.pdf|archive-date=December 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Proponents of universal service principles further claim that eliminating or reducing the PES or mailbox rule would affect the ability of the Postal Service to provide affordable universal service. If, for example, the PES and the mailbox rule were to be eliminated, and the USO maintained, then either billions of dollars in tax revenues or some other source of funding would have to be found.<ref name="2008 USO Postal Monopoly report"/>

Some proponents{{by whom|date=April 2012}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/technology/2013/06/nsa-surveillance-why-the-post-office-doesnt-spy-on-your-mail-the-way-nsa-spies-on-your-email.html|title=Why It's So Much Harder for the Government to Spy on Your Snail Mail Than Your Email.|last=Webb|first=Amy|date=June 12, 2013|website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|language=en|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204200132/https://slate.com/technology/2013/06/nsa-surveillance-why-the-post-office-doesnt-spy-on-your-mail-the-way-nsa-spies-on-your-email.html|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> of universal service principles suggest that private communications that are protected by the veil of government promote the exchange of free ideas and communications. This separates private communications from the ability of a private for-profit or non-profit organization to corrupt. Security for the individual is in this way protected by the United States Post Office, maintaining confidentiality and anonymity, as well as government employees being much less likely to be instructed by superiors to engage in nefarious spying.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} It is seen by some{{by whom|date=April 2012}} as a dangerous step to extract the universal service principle from the post office, as the untainted nature of private communications is preserved as assurance of the protection of individual freedom of privacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/445449-perhaps-we-need-the-us-postal-service-to-restore-trust-in-digital|title=Perhaps we need the US Postal Service to restore trust in digital communication|last=Gilliland|first=Donald|date=May 25, 2019|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en|access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204200212/https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/445449-perhaps-we-need-the-us-postal-service-to-restore-trust-in-digital|archive-date=December 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, as the recent notice of a termination of mail service to residents of the [[Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness]] indicates, mail service has been contracted to private firms such as Arnold Aviation for many decades. KTVB-TV reported:<ref>[http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/64242462.html Postal Service to renew Idaho back country mail route] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315225213/http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/64242462.html |date=March 15, 2012}} Alyson Outen, KTVB-TV, April 10, 2009</ref>

=== 2008 report on universal postal service and the postal monopoly ===

The Postal Act of 2006 required the [[Postal Regulatory Commission]] (PRC) to submit a report to the president and Congress on universal postal service and the postal monopoly in December 2008. The report must include any recommended changes. The Postal Service report supports the requirement that the PRC is to consult with and solicit written comments from the Postal Service. In addition, the Government Accountability Office was required to evaluate broader business model issues by 2011.

On October 15, 2008, the Postal Service submitted a report<ref name="2008 Postal Monopoly webpage">{{cite web |url=https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/postal-act-2006/universal-postal-service.htm |title=Report on Universal Postal Service and the Postal Monopoly |access-date=October 20, 2021 |publisher=USPS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008175810/https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/postal-act-2006/universal-postal-service.htm |archive-date=October 8, 2021}}</ref> to the PRC on its position related to the Universal Service Obligation (USO). It said no changes to the USO and restriction on mailbox access were necessary at that time, but increased regulatory flexibility was required to ensure affordable universal service in the future.

In February 2013, the Postal Service announced that starting August 2013, Saturday delivery would be discontinued. Congress traditionally includes a provision in an annual [[continuing resolution]] that requires six-day delivery; it did so again in March 2013, and the Postal Service was forced to continue Saturday delivery.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/congress-votes-keep-usps-saturday-delivery-msna20082 |title=Congress votes to keep USPS Saturday delivery |website=[[MSNBC]] |date=March 21, 2013 |access-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209195846/https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/congress-votes-keep-usps-saturday-delivery-msna20082 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Monopoly and competition ===
Due to the postal monopoly, neither [[FedEx]] nor [[United Parcel Service]] (UPS) are allowed to deliver non-urgent letters, and may not directly ship to U.S. Mail boxes at residential and commercial destinations. However, both companies have transit agreements with the USPS in which an item can be dropped off with either FedEx or UPS who will then provide shipment up to the destination post office serving the intended recipient where it will be transferred for delivery to the U.S. Mail destination, including Post Office Box destinations.<ref name="smartpost">{{cite web |url=http://www.fedex.com/us/smart-post/outbound.html |title=FedEx SmartPost Shipping & Tracking for Low Weight Packages |publisher=FedEx |access-date=April 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405161604/http://www.fedex.com/us/smart-post/outbound.html |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mailinno">{{cite web |url=http://www.upsmailinnovations.com/services/index.html |title=UPS Mail Innovations – Overview |publisher=United Parcel Service |access-date=April 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505114221/http://upsmailinnovations.com/services/index.html |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> These services also deliver packages which are larger and heavier than USPS will accept. 

Although USPS and UPS are direct competitors, USPS contracts with UPS for air transport of 2–3 Day Priority Mail<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Postal Service Statement on Award to United Parcel Service, Inc. for Contract to Support Air Cargo Transportation - Statements - Newsroom - About.usps.com |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/040124-usps-statement-on-award-to-ups-for-contract-to-support-air-cargo-transportation.htm |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=about.usps.com}}</ref> and Priority Mail Express (typically delivered overnight).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-express.htm|title=Priority Mail Express – USPS|website=www.usps.com|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126061907/https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-express.htm|archive-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Law enforcement agencies ==
Under the [[Mail cover|Mail Cover Program]] USPS photographs the front and back of every piece of U.S. mail as part of the sorting process, enabling law enforcement to obtain address information and images of the outsides of mail as part of an investigation without the need for a warrant.<ref>Melendez, Steven (October 25, 2018.)  [https://www.fastcompany.com/90257308/suspicious-packages-spotlight-vast-postal-surveillance-system-mail-covers "Suspicious Packages Spotlight Vast Postal Surveillance System."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511022315/https://www.fastcompany.com/90257308/suspicious-packages-spotlight-vast-postal-surveillance-system-mail-covers |date=May 11, 2019}}  ''[[Fast Company]]''. Retrieved November 9, 2019.</ref>
[[File:FDA and the International Mail Facilities (IMFs) (27057043228).jpg|thumb|The [[Food and Drug Administration]] inspects packages for illegal drug shipments.]]

=== Postal Inspection Service ===
The [[United States Postal Inspection Service]] (USPIS) is one of the oldest [[law enforcement agencies]] in the U.S. Founded by [[Benjamin Franklin]] on August 7, 1775, its mission is to protect the Postal Service, its employees, and its customers from crime and protect the nation's mail system from criminal misuse.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis/ |title=History of USPIS |access-date=August 16, 2020 |website=United States Postal Inspection Service |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427163527/https://www.uspis.gov/about/history-of-uspis |url-status=live}}</ref>

Postal Inspectors enforce over 200 federal laws providing for the protection of mail in [[Criminal procedure|investigations of crimes]] that may adversely affect or fraudulently use the U.S. Mail, the postal system or postal employees.

The USPIS has the power to enforce the USPS monopoly by conducting search and seizure raids on entities they suspect of sending non-urgent mail through overnight delivery competitors. According to the [[American Enterprise Institute]], a private conservative [[think tank]], the USPIS raided [[Equifax]] offices in 1993 to ascertain if the mail they were sending through [[FedEx]] was truly "extremely urgent". It was found that the mail was not, and Equifax was fined $30,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aei.org/publication/opportunities-for-anticompetitive-behavior-in-postal-services/ |title=Opportunities for Anticompetitive Behavior in Postal Services |access-date=January 2, 2016 |last=Geddes |first=Rick |work=AEI |date=June 1, 2003 |publisher=[[American Enterprise Institute]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109121159/http://www.aei.org/publication/opportunities-for-anticompetitive-behavior-in-postal-services/ |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/26424/why-cant-you-start-rival-post-office|title=Why Can't You Start a Rival Post Office?|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117001335/http://mentalfloss.com/article/26424/why-cant-you-start-rival-post-office|archive-date=November 17, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The PIS oversees the activities of the [[United States Postal Inspection Service#Police Force|Postal Police Force]] who patrol and secure major postal facilities in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/radDocs/pubs/Annual%20Report%202014_Text%20Only.pdf|title=Annual Report: FY 2014|date=2014|website=U.S. Postal Inspection Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331204531/https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/radDocs/pubs/Annual%20Report%202014_Text%20Only.pdf|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Office of Inspector General ===
The [[United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General]] (OIG) was authorized by law in 1996. Prior to the 1996 legislation, the Postal Inspection Service performed the duties of the OIG. The inspector general, who is independent of postal management, is appointed by and reports directly to the nine [[List of positions filled by presidential appointment with Senate confirmation|presidentially appointed]], [[United States Senate|Senate]]–[[Advice and consent|confirmed]] members of the [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service]]. OIG s  primary purpose is to prevent, detect and report fraud, waste and program abuse, and promote efficiency. The OIG has "oversight" responsibility for all activities of the Postal Inspection Service.

== How delivery services work ==
=== Elements of addressing and preparing domestic mail ===
{{See also|Address format by country and area#United States}}

All mailable articles (e.g., letters, flats, machinable parcels, irregular parcels, etc.) shipped within the United States must comply with an array of standards published in the USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pe.usps.com/DMM300 |title=Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service |date=2024-04-01 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Domestic Mail Manual {{!}} Postal Explorer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721164927/https://pe.usps.com/DMM300 |archive-date=2024-07-21 |url-status=live |publisher=[[USPS]]}}</ref> Before addressing the mailpiece, one must first comply with the various mailability standards relating to attributes of the actual mailpiece such as: minimum/maximum dimensions<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm |title={{nowrap|§101}}: Physical Standards |date=2024-04-01<!-- The main page, https://pe.usps.com/DMM300, states the site was last updated on this date. --> |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Domestic Mail Manual {{!}} Postal Explorer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508163155/https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/101.htm |archive-date=2024-05-08 |url-status=live |publisher=[[USPS]]}}</ref> and weight, acceptable mailing containers, proper mailpiece sealing/closure, utilization of various markings, and restrictions relating to various hazardous (e.g., explosives, flammables, etc.) and restricted (e.g., cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, etc.) materials, as well as others articulated in §&nbsp;601 of the DMM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/601.htm |title={{nowrap|§601}}: Mailability |date=2024-04-01<!-- The main page, https://pe.usps.com/DMM300, states the site was last updated on this date. --> |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=Domestic Mail Manual {{!}} Postal Explorer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408233638/https://pe.usps.com/text/DMM300/601.htm |archive-date=2024-04-08 |url-status=live |publisher=[[USPS]]}}</ref>

Undeliverable mail that cannot be readily returned, including mail without a return address, is treated as [[dead mail]] at the Mail Recovery Center in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=POM Revision: Mail Recovery Operations |url=https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2008/html/pb22248/html/updt_004.html#:~:text=Effective%20April%2024,%202009,%20the,Center%20in%20stages%20as%20follows: |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=about.usps.com}}</ref>

[[File:UseZipCode.JPG|thumb|Sticker promoting ZIP Code use]]

The USPS maintains a list of proper abbreviations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official USPS Abbreviations |url=https://www.usps.com/send/official-abbreviations.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728013026/https://www.usps.com/send/official-abbreviations.htm |archive-date=2014-07-28 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>

The format of a return address is similar. Though some [[style manual]]s recommend using a comma between the city and state name when typesetting addresses in other contexts, for optimal automatic character recognition, the Post Office does not recommend this when addressing mail. The official recommendation is to use all upper case block letters with proper formats and abbreviations, and leave out all punctuation except for the [[hyphen]] in the ZIP+4 code. If the address is unusually formatted or illegible enough, it will require hand-processing, delaying that particular item. The USPS publishes the entirety of their postal addressing standards.<ref>[http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub28/welcome.htm USPS postal addressing standards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828111410/http://pe.usps.gov/text/pub28/welcome.htm |date=August 28, 2005}}. Pe.usps.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

[[Postal address verification]] tools and services are offered by the USPS and third-party companies to help ensure mail is deliverable by fixing formatting, appending information such as ZIP Code and validating the address is a valid [[Postal address verification#Delivery Point Validation|delivery point]]. Customers can look up ZIP Codes and verify addresses using USPS Web Tools available on the official USPS website and Facebook page, as well as on third-party sites.<ref name="Zip Lookup">{{cite web|title=Zip|url=https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input|publisher=USPS|access-date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222044440/https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction_input|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Delivery Point Validation ====
Delivery Point Validation (DPV) provides the highest level of address accuracy checking. In a DPV process, the address is checked against the AMS data file to ensure that it exists as an active delivery point.<ref name="Delivery Point Validation">{{cite web|title=2004 Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations Chapter 2 Postal Operations|url=https://about.usps.com/strategic-planning/cs04/chp2-027.html|publisher=USPS|access-date=September 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916155826/https://about.usps.com/strategic-planning/cs04/chp2-027.html|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}} 2004 Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations Chapter 2 Postal Operations</ref> The USPS provides DPV on their website as part of the ZIP Code Lookup tool; there are also companies that offer services to perform DPV in bulk.

=== Paying postage ===
Postage can be paid via:<ref>[http://www.usps.com/all/postagepayoptions/welcome.htm USPS.com]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723224356/http://www.usps.com/all/postagepayoptions/welcome.htm |date=July 23, 2011}}. USPS.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>
* Stamps purchased online at usps.com, at a post office, from a stamp vending machine or "Automated Postal Center" which can also handle packages, or from a third party (such as a grocery store)
* [[Precancel|Pre-cancelled stamps]] for bulk mailings<ref>[http://www.usps.com/send/postagepermitimprintsandmeters/precancelledstamps.htm USPS.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701060911/http://www.usps.com/send/postagepermitimprintsandmeters/precancelledstamps.htm |date=July 1, 2011}}. USPS.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>
* Postal meter
* Prepaid envelope
* Shipping label purchased online and printed by the customer on standard paper (e.g., with [[Click-N-Ship]], or via a third-party such as [[PayPal]] or [[Amazon.com|Amazon shipping]])

All unused [[U.S. postage stamps]] issued since 1861 are still valid as postage at their indicated value. [[Non-denominated postage|Non-denominated stamps]] and those with values denominated by a letter are "valid at the original prices of issue".<ref>{{cite web |title=Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service |url=https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/dmmtoc.pdf |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=18 February 2025 |date=9 January 2025}}</ref> Additionally, ''Forever Stamps'' have been sold since 2007, which will always be valid for First-Class Mail up to {{convert|1|oz|g}}, regardless of rate changes.<ref>[http://www.usps.com/prices/ New Prices Coming May 12, 2008] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804055646/http://www.usps.com/prices/ |date=August 4, 2015}}. Usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> In 2011, all first-class one ounce stamps, except for those sold in select coil sizes, "became forever stamps".<ref>{{cite web |title=Forever Stamp Fact Sheet |url=https://about.usps.com/news/fact-sheets/forever-stamp-facts.htm |publisher=United States Postal Service |access-date=18 February 2025 |archive-date=January 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091320/http://about.usps.com/news/fact-sheets/forever-stamp-facts.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The cost of mailing a {{convert|1|oz|abbr=on}} First-Class letter increased to 73 cents on July 14, 2024.<ref name="Notice 123">{{cite web |title=Notice 123 {{!}} Postal Explorer |url=https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm#_c037 |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=pe.usps.com}}</ref><ref name="cbs-73">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Kate |title=Stamp prices poised to rise again, for the 2nd time this year  |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-prices-increase-forever-stamp-2024/ |website=CBS News |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=3 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003234410/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-prices-increase-forever-stamp-2024/ |archive-date=3 October 2024 |date=10 April 2024}}</ref>

==== Postage meters ====
{{Main|Postage meter}}
A postage meter is a mechanical device used to create and apply physical evidence of postage (or franking) to mailed matter. Postage meters are regulated by a country's postal authority; for example, in the United States, the United States Postal Service specifies the rules for the creation, support, and use of postage meters. A postage meter imprints an amount of postage, functioning as a postage stamp, a cancellation and a dated postmark all in one. The meter stamp serves as proof of payment and eliminates the need for adhesive stamps.

==== PC Postage ====
In addition to using standard stamps, postage can now be printed in the form of an electronic stamp, or e-stamp, from a personal computer using a system called [[Information Based Indicia]]. This online PC Postage method relies upon application software on the customer's computer contacting a postal security device at the office of the postal service.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Henk C. A. |last=van Tilborg |year=2005 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of cryptography and security |title=Electronic Postage |publisher=Springer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m-9Zj-e-HDsC&pg=PA177 |isbn=978-0-387-23473-1 |access-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035351/https://books.google.com/books?id=m-9Zj-e-HDsC&pg=PA177 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other electronic postage payment methods ===
=== International services ===
[[File:FDA and the International Mail Facilities (IMFs) (40886549732).jpg|thumb|Packages awaiting inspection at the International Mail Facility in JFK airport]]

In May 2007, the USPS<ref>{{Cite news |title=United States Postal Service |url=https://www.nytimes.com/topic/organization/united-states-postal-service |access-date=2024-12-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> restructured international service names to correspond with domestic shipping options. Formerly, USPS International services<ref>{{cite web|title=International Delivery Options |url=http://www.usps.com/international/deliveryoptions.htm |publisher=USPS |access-date=September 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918144922/http://www.usps.com/international/deliveryoptions.htm |archive-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref> were categorized as Airmail (Letter Post), Economy (Surface) Parcel Post, Airmail Parcel Post, Global Priority, Global Express, and Global Express Guaranteed Mail. The former Airmail (Letter Post) is now First-Class Mail International,<ref>[http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc2_019.htm USPS International Mail Manual, Issue 35] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121014142/http://pe.usps.gov./text/Imm/immc2_019.htm |date=November 21, 2008}}. Pe.usps.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.usps.com/international/first-class-mail-international.htm First-Class Mail International]. USPS (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609095309/https://www.usps.com/international/first-class-mail-international.htm |date=June 9, 2015}}</ref> and includes small packages weighing up to {{convert|4|lb|kg|spell=in}}. Economy Parcel Post was discontinued for international service, while Airmail Parcel Post was replaced by Priority Mail International. Priority Mail International Flat-Rate packaging in various sizes was introduced, with the same conditions of service previously used for Global Priority. Global Express is now Express Mail International, while Global Express Guaranteed was unchanged. All international package services come with USPS tracking up until the point it leaves the US, with further tracking availability dependent on the destination country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Mail Services & Shipping Rates {{!}} USPS |url=https://www.usps.com/international/mail-shipping-services.htm |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=www.usps.com}}</ref> First-Class Mail letters and flats are not trackable. On September 29th, 2024, Global Express Guaranteed service was suspended to all destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IMM Revision: Changes to Global Express Guaranteed Service |url=https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2024/pb22660/html/updt_002.htm |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=about.usps.com}}</ref>

One of the major changes in the updated naming and services definitions is that USPS-supplied mailing boxes for Priority and Express mail are allowed for international use. These services are offered to ship letters and packages to almost every country and territory on the globe. The USPS contracts with various commercial and freight airlines to transport mail and packages to their destination. The Fly America act of 1974 mandates that the postal service must use a US Flag Carrier whenever one is available, regardless of cost. Exceptions apply for destinations not served by US carriers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Handbooks |url=https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2024/pb22649/html/updt_002.htm#:~:text=USPS%20complies%20with%20the%20Fly,a. |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=about.usps.com}}</ref>

[[File:M-bag Asendia.jpg|thumb|upright|An m-bag]]
The USPS provides an '''{{visible anchor|M-bag}}'''<ref>Styling for "M-bag" is inconsistent – the term is styled both as ''M-bag'' (with a [[hyphen]]) and ''M–bag'' (with an [[en-dash]]).</ref> service for international shipment of [[printed matter]];<ref name="Olivia">Postal Explorer>IMM Issue 37 – International Mail Manual > 2 Conditions for Mailing > [http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_026.htm 260 Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (M–bags)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817133102/http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc2_026.htm |date=August 17, 2016}}</ref> previously surface M-bags existed, but with the 2007 elimination of surface mail, only airmail M-bags remain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.customercares4u.com/2019/05/post-office-hours-usps.html|date=May 31, 2019|title=USPS Working Hour|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531094017/https://www.customercares4u.com/2019/05/post-office-hours-usps.html|archive-date=May 31, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The term "M-bag" is not expanded in USPS publications; M-bags are simply defined as "direct sacks of printed matter ... sent to a single foreign addressee at a single address";<ref name="Olivia" /> however, the term is sometimes referred to informally as "media bag", as the bag can also contain "discs, tapes, and cassettes", in addition to books, for which the usual umbrella term is "media"; some also refer to them as "mail bags".

The Department of Defense and the USPS jointly operate a postal system to deliver mail for the military; this is known as the '''Army Post Office''' (for [[United States Army|Army]] and [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] postal facilities) and the '''Fleet Post Office''' (for [[United States Navy|Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] postal facilities).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aafes.com/edi/PDF/apoguide.pdf |title=APO/FPO Guide for AAFES Suppliers – The USPS Relationship with Military Service Members |author=Military Postal Service Agency |date=June 2008 |publisher=Military Postal Service Agency |access-date=July 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709160952/https://www.aafes.com/edi/PDF/apoguide.pdf |archive-date=July 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Military mail]] is billed at domestic rates when being sent from the United States to a military outpost, and is free when sent by deployed military personnel. The overseas logistics are handled by the [[Military Postal Service Agency]] in the Department of Defense.<ref>[http://about.usps.com/publications/pub640/pub640_tech.htm USPS FAQ – Mailing to military personnel]. about.usps.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011.{{cbignore}}</ref> Outside of forward areas and active operations, military mail service speeds vary greatly based on location. First-Class takes 7–18 days, Priority 7-18 days, Parcel Select and Media Mail 18-45 days, and Priority Mail Express military takes 3 days, though it is only available to select European, North American, and Pacific posts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USPS.com FAQs |url=https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Sending-Military-and-Diplomatic-Mail |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=faq.usps.com}}</ref>

Three independent countries with a [[Compact of Free Association]] with the U.S. ([[Palau]], the [[Marshall Islands]], and the [[Federated States of Micronesia]]) have a special relationship with the United States Postal Service:
* Each associated state maintains its own government-run mail service for delivery to and pickup from retail customers.<ref name="doi" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mipsa.biz/ |title=Under Construction |publisher=Mipsa.biz |access-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217134938/http://mipsa.biz/ |archive-date=December 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name="fsmgov">{{cite web |url=http://www.fsmgov.org/info/com.html |title=FSM Communications |publisher=Government of the Federated States of Micronesia |access-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015802/http://www.fsmgov.org/info/com.html |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
* The associated states are integrated into the USPS addressing and ZIP Code system.
* The USPS is responsible for transporting mail between the United States and the associated states,<ref name="doi">{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/ocl/hearings/112/USandPalauAgreement_113011 |title=U.S. and Palau Agreement |publisher=US Department of the Interior |date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906050558/https://www.doi.gov/ocl/hearings/112/USandPalauAgreement_113011 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and between the individual states of the Federated States of Micronesia.<ref name="fsmgov" />
* The associated states synchronize postal services and rates with the USPS.
* The USPS treats mail to and from the associated states as domestic mail.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kolonia.usembassy.gov/2007-10.html |title=USPS Domestic Mail Service Returns to the FSM and RMI |publisher=US Embassy in Kolonia |date=November 5, 2007 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721223927/http://kolonia.usembassy.gov/2007-10.html |archive-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> Incoming mail does require customs declarations because, like some U.S. territories, the associated states are outside the main [[customs territory of the United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pe.usps.com/FRN/Customs_Labels_Requirements_final.pdf |title=New Customs Declarations Label Requirements|website=Postal Explorer - USPS |access-date=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227192356/http://pe.usps.com/FRN/Customs_Labels_Requirements_final.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>
==== Discontinuation of international surface mail ====

{{For|more information about surface mail|Surface mail}}
{{#section:Surface mail|USA}}

=== Sorting and delivery process ===
[[File:USPS mail flow through national infrastructure.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Mail flow through national infrastructure, as of 2005]]

Processing of standard sized envelopes and cards is highly automated, including reading of handwritten addresses. Mail from individual customers and public USPS mailboxes is collected by letter carriers into plastic tubs, which are taken to one of approximately 251 '''Processing and Distribution Centers''' ('''P&DCs''') across the United States. Each P&DC sorts mail for a given region (typically with a radius of around {{convert|200|mi}}) and connects with the national network for interregional mail.<ref name="bard"> Direct Marketing Direct Mail. Allbusiness.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011 from {{cite web|title=Equipment Scheduling at Mail Processing and Distribution Centers|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing/direct-marketing-direct-mail/316648-1.html |access-date=April 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311080413/http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing/direct-marketing-direct-mail/316648-1.html |archive-date=March 11, 2008}}</ref>

Since the late 20th century, the USPS has been reducing [[Point-to-point transit|point-to-point links]] in favor of a [[spoke-hub distribution paradigm]], with sorting work tightly concentrated at the hubs. During the 2010s, the USPS consolidated mail sorting for large regions into the P&DCs on the basis that most mail is addressed to faraway destinations,<ref name="Wade">{{cite news|last1=Wade|first1=Madison|title=Changes announced for Redding mail processing center|url=http://www.krcrtv.com/news/changes-announced-for-redding-mail-processing-center_20160513173556232/11098437|access-date=January 19, 2017|work=KRCR News Channel ABC 7|publisher=Bonten Media Group|location=Redding|date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193446/http://www.krcrtv.com/news/changes-announced-for-redding-mail-processing-center_20160513173556232/11098437|archive-date=January 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> but for cities at the edge of a P&DC's region, this means all locally addressed mail must travel long distances (that is, to and from the P&DC for sorting) to reach nearby addresses.<ref name="Benda">{{cite news|last1=Benda|first1=David|title=Mail sorting facility will close; move will affect 90 jobs in Redding|url=http://archive.redding.com/news/mail-sorting-facility-to-close-move-will-affect-90-jobs-in-redding-ep-375253774-354500461.html|access-date=January 19, 2017|work=Redding Record-Searchlight|date=February 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131195039/http://archive.redding.com/news/mail-sorting-facility-to-close-move-will-affect-90-jobs-in-redding-ep-375253774-354500461.html|archive-date=January 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the P&DC, mail is emptied into hampers which are automatically dumped into a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS). As mail travels through the DPRCS, large items, such as packages and mail bundles, are removed from the stream. As the remaining mail enters the first machine for processing standard mail, the [[Advanced Facer-Canceler System]] (AFCS), pieces that passed through the DPRCS but do not conform to physical dimensions for processing in the AFCS (e.g., large envelopes or overstuffed standard envelopes) are automatically diverted from the stream. Mail removed from the DPRCS and AFCS is manually processed or sent to parcel sorting machines.

In contrast to the previous system, which canceled and postmarked the upper right corner of the envelope, thereby missing any stamps which were inappropriately placed, the AFCS locates [[Indicia (philately)|indicia]] (stamp or metered postage mark) regardless of the orientation of the mailpiece as it enters the machine, and cancels it by applying a [[postmark]]. Detection of indicia enables the AFCS to determine the orientation of each mailpiece and sort it accordingly. The AFCS rotates and flips over mailpieces as needed, so all mail is sorted right-side up and faced in the same direction in each output bin.

Mail is sorted by the AFCS into three categories: mail already affixed with a [[bar code]] and addressed (such as business reply envelopes and cards); mail with machine printed (typed) addresses; and mail with handwritten addresses.

Mail with typed addresses goes to a [[Multiline Optical Character Reader]] (MLOCR) which reads the ZIP Code and address information and prints the appropriate bar code onto the envelope (formerly POSTNET, later Intelligent Mail). Mail with handwritten addresses and illegible typed addresses is diverted from the mailstream to the [[Remote Bar Coding System]] (RBCS). Images of such mailpieces are transmitted through RBCS to the [[Remote Encoding Center]], where humans ([[data entry clerk]]s) read each image and type in the most likely address. Each mailpiece held for RBCS processing is sprayed with an ID Tag, a [[fluorescent]] bar code. When address data comes back from the Remote Encoding Center, RBCS uses the ID Tag bar code to identify the corresponding mailpiece and prints the appropriate bar code, then returns the mailpiece to the mailstream.

Processed mail is imaged by the [[Mail Isolation Control and Tracking]] (MICT) system to allow easier tracking of hazardous substances. Images are taken at more than 200 mail processing centers, and are destroyed after being retained for 30 days.<ref name="WaPo_confirm">{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Miga |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-postal-takes-photos-mail-keeps-images-074323981.html |publisher=[[Yahoo! News]] |title=AP Interview: Postal Service takes photos of all mail, keeps images for up to a month |date=August 2, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020929/http://news.yahoo.com/ap-interview-postal-takes-photos-mail-keeps-images-074323981.html |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

If a customer has filed a change of address card and his or her mail is detected in the mailstream with the old address, the mailpiece is sent to a machine that automatically connects to a Computerized Forwarding System database to determine the new address. If this address is found, the machine will paste a label over the former address with the current address and the appropriate bar code. The mail is returned to the mailstream to be forwarded to the addressee's new location.

Mail with addresses that cannot be read and bar coded by any of the foregoing automated systems is separated for human intervention. Local postal workers can read the address and manually code and sort mail according to the ZIP Code on the article. If the address still cannot be read, mail is either returned to the sender (First-Class Mail with a valid return address) or is sent to the Mail Recovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia (formerly known as the [[dead letter office]]). At this office, the mail is opened to try to find an address to forward to. If an address is found, the contents are resealed and delivered. Otherwise, the items are held for 90 days in case of inquiry by the customer; if they are not claimed, they are either destroyed or auctioned off at the monthly Postal Service Unclaimed Parcel auction to raise money for the service.

Once the mail is bar coded, it is automatically sorted by a [[delivery bar code sorter|Delivery Bar Code Sorter]] (DBCS) that reads the bar code, identifies the destination of the mailpiece, and sends it to an appropriate tray that corresponds to the next segment of its journey.

There are necessarily two P&DCs for every domestic mailpiece which correspond to the regions in which the sender and recipient are located. The USPS calls these, respectively, the origin and destination P&DCs.<ref>See, e.g., [https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-39/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-121 39 CFR 121.1 et seq.]</ref> Mail for which they are the same (because the senders are located in the same region as the recipients) is either trucked to the appropriate local post office, or kept in the building for carrier routes served directly from the P&DC itself. Out-of-region mail is trucked to the closest airport and then flown, usually as baggage on commercial airlines, to the airport nearest the destination station. At the destination P&DC, mail is again read by a DBCS which sorts items to local post offices; this includes grouping mailpieces by individual letter-carrier route.

At the carrier route level, 95% of letters arrive pre-sorted;<ref name="bard" /> the remaining mail must be sorted by hand. In 2009, the Post Office was working to increase the percentage of automatically sorted mail, including a pilot program to sort "flats".<ref>USPS.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011 from {{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt4_pg46.htm|title=Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations 2008|access-date=March 31, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508211032/https://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt4_pg46.htm|archive-date=May 8, 2009}}</ref>

UPS is the primary air transport supplier to USPS for Priority and Express Mail. Priority Mail and Express Mail are transported from origin processing centers to the closest UPS-served airport, where they are handed off to UPS. UPS then flies them to the destination airport and hands them back to USPS for transport to the local post office and delivery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Postal Service Statement on Award to United Parcel Service, Inc. for Contract to Support Air Cargo Transportation - Statements - Newsroom - About.usps.com |url=https://about.usps.com/newsroom/statements/040124-usps-statement-on-award-to-ups-for-contract-to-support-air-cargo-transportation.htm |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=about.usps.com}}</ref>

After consolidating sorting work into the P&DCs, the USPS in August 2022 initiated a pilot program to consolidate delivery work into '''Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DCs)'''. As of 2022, the USPS was still running "delivery units" out of most of its post offices, meaning that most carrier routes were based at post offices and there were dozens of delivery units in each [[Metropolitan statistical area|metropolitan area]]. The USPS planned to merge many delivery units in each metropolitan area into S&DCs, which implied that many letter carriers would have to endure longer commutes to S&DCs and drive longer delivery routes, while many post offices would be reduced to retail stores with no back-end mail processing capability on site. However, the USPS hoped to save money on the trucking fleet moving mail between its facilities.<ref name="Katz2">{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Eric |title=USPS Lists Hundreds of Post Offices and Other Facilities Where It Will Consolidate Operations |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2022/08/usps-lists-hundreds-post-offices-facilities-consolidate-operations/376385/ |access-date=March 26, 2023 |work=Government Executive |date=August 26, 2022}}</ref> A 2023 audit by the USPS inspector general found that the facilities selected to serve as the initial S&DCs were operating smoothly and functioning as expected, but criticized the USPS for immediately consolidating workers into the S&DCs before they had been upgraded with adequate amenities like restrooms, break rooms, and locker rooms appropriately sized for such large numbers of employees.<ref name="Katz">{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Eric |title=New, consolidated USPS facilities are operating smoothly, but not yet delivering on improved working conditions |url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2023/09/new-consolidated-usps-facilities-are-operating-smoothly-not-yet-delivering-promise-improved-working-conditions/390307/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |work=Government Executive |date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

{{anchor|United States post office building}}

==== Types of postal facilities ====
{{main|List of United States post offices}}
[[File:OldPostOfficeTomahWI.JPG|thumb|Historic main post office in [[Tomah, Wisconsin]]]]
[[File:LongPointStationHouston.JPG|thumb|A typical post office station in the [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]] area of [[Houston]], Texas]]<!--Used to show the new "generic" post offices-->
[[File:Galveston Federal Building 2009.jpg|thumb|A combined [[Galveston United States Post Office and Courthouse|Post Office, Customs House, and Federal Court House]] in [[Galveston, Texas]]]]<!--Photo used to show example of post offices that are tenants in other governmental buildings-->
[[File:Halibut Cove Post Office.jpg|thumb|Floating post office, [[Halibut Cove, Alaska]]]]
[[File:Wheeler-springs-smallest-post-office-in-america.png|thumb|right|220px|[[Wheeler Springs, California|Wheeler Springs, CA]], was home to the smallest post office in the U.S.]]
Although its retail postal facilities are called post offices in regular speech, the USPS recognizes several types of postal facilities, including the following:
* A '''main post office''' (formerly known as a '''general post office''') is the primary postal facility in a community.
* A '''station''' or '''post office station''' is a postal facility that is not the main post office, but that is within the corporate limits of the community.
* A '''branch''' or '''post office branch''' is a postal facility that is not the main post office and that is outside the corporate limits of the community.
* A '''classified unit''' is a station or branch operated by USPS employees in a facility owned or leased by the USPS.
* A '''contract postal unit''' (or '''CPU''') is a station or branch operated by a contractor, typically in a store or other place of business.<ref name="glossary" />
* A '''community post office''' (or '''CPO''') is a contract postal unit providing services in a small community in which other types of post office facilities have been discontinued.
* An '''approved shipper''' is an independent shipping business licensed to use certain USPS branding and signage, but which does not receive any financial compensation from USPS and may opt to charge higher rates for postage. Approved Shippers may also accept packages for other carriers such as UPS or FedEx.<ref>{{cite web |title=Approved Postal Provider Programs |url=https://about.usps.com/suppliers/becoming/approved-postal-provider-programs.htm |publisher=USPS |access-date=August 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308142338/https://about.usps.com/suppliers/becoming/approved-postal-provider-programs.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* A '''finance unit''' is a station or branch that provides window services and accepts mail, but does not provide delivery.
* A '''village post office''' ('''VPO''') is an entity such as a local business or government center that provides postal services through a contract with the USPS. First introduced in 2011 as an integral part of the USPS plan to close low volume post offices, village post offices will fill the role of the post office within a ZIP Code.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/assets/pdf/vpo-fact-sheet-110726.pdf |title=USPS VPO Fact Sheet |publisher=usps.com |date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005130006/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/assets/pdf/vpo-fact-sheet-110726.pdf |archive-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref>
* A '''processing and distribution center''' ('''P&DC''', or '''processing and distribution facility''', formerly known as a '''General Mail Facility''') is a central mail facility that processes and dispatches incoming and outgoing mail to and from a designated service area (251 nationwide).<ref name="bard" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/processing_facility_types.pdf|title=Fact Sheet: Processing Facilities|publisher=United States Postal Service|website=USPS News Kit: Our Future Network|type=PDF|access-date=June 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515062651/http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/processing_facility_types.pdf|archive-date=May 15, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A '''[[sectional center facility]]''' ('''SCF''') is a P&DC for a designated geographical area defined by one or more three-digit ZIP Code prefixes.
* An '''international service center''' ('''ISC''') is an international mail processing facility. There are four such USPS facilities in the continental United States, located in Chicago, New York, Miami, and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/pr08_063.htm |title=USPS Postal News Release No. 08-063 |publisher=usps.com |date=June 5, 2008 |access-date=September 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511115012/http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/pr08_063.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2009 }}</ref>
* A '''[[network distribution center]] (NDC)''', formerly known as a [[bulk mail]] center (BMC), was a central mail facility that processed bulk rate parcels as the hub in a [[hub and spoke network]]. The NDC network was dismantled in 2022-2023 as part of modernization efforts, with NDC duties being returned to the P&DC network. Each of the 20 NDCs is being repurposed to serve the new network. 
* An '''auxiliary sorting facility''' ('''ASF''') is a central mail facility that processes bulk rate parcels as spokes in a hub and spoke network.
* A '''remote encoding center''' ('''REC''') is a facility at which clerks receive images of problem mail pieces (those with hard-to-read addresses, etc.) via secure Internet-type feeds and manually type the addresses they can decipher, using a special encoding protocol. The mail pieces are then sprayed with the correct addresses or are sorted for further handling according to the instructions given via encoding. The total number of RECs is down from 55 in 1998 to just 1 center in December 2016. The last REC is in [[Salt Lake City]], Utah.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sltrib.com/news/3445651-155/the-first-and-last-of-its|title=The first and last of its kind, a Salt Lake City postal facility looks to grow|last=Piper|first=Matthew|newspaper=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]|language=en-US|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202054727/http://www.sltrib.com/news/3445651-155/the-first-and-last-of-its|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A '''remotely managed post office''' ('''RMPO''') is an office with part-time window hours that is staffed by a Postal Service employee but managed remotely by a postmaster at a larger office.
* A '''part-time post office''' ('''PTPO''') is a Post Office that offers part-time window service hours, is staffed by a Postal Service employee, and reports to a district office.<ref>{{cite web |title=Handbook PO-101 Revision: Post Office Organization |url=https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22344/html/updt_008.htm |website=about.usps.com |access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref>

While common usage refers to all types of postal facilities as "substations", the USPS Glossary of Postal Terms does not define or even list that word.<ref name="glossary">[http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub32.pdf Publication 32 – Glossary of Postal Terms] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508210619/http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub32.pdf |date=May 8, 2009 }}. (PDF). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> Post Offices often share facilities with other governmental organizations located within a city's central business district. In those locations, often courthouses and federal buildings, the building is owned by the [[General Services Administration]] while the U.S. Postal Services operates as a [[tenement (law)|tenant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=18257 |website=General Services Administration |title=Texas Federal Buildings:Galveston U.S. Post Office and Courthouse |access-date=December 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117075004/http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=18257 |archive-date=November 17, 2009}}</ref> The USPS retail system has approximately 36,000 post offices, stations, and branches.<ref>USPS.com. Retrieved July 8, 2011 from {{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt4_pg38.htm|title=Comprehensive Statement on Postal Operations 2008|access-date=April 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509021712/https://www.usps.com/strategicplanning/cs08/chpt4_pg38.htm|archive-date=May 9, 2009}}</ref>

==== Self-Service Kiosks ====
[[File:APC 77598 Webster Texas.jpg|thumb|upright|A 24-hour Automated Postal Center kiosk inside the [[Webster, Texas]] main post office]]In 2004, the USPS began deploying Automated Postal Centers (APCs) at USPS locations.<ref name="APC04">{{cite web |title=Lunewsviews.com |url=http://www.lunewsviews.com/sspcplans.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802031753/http://www.lunewsviews.com/sspcplans.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |publisher=Lunewsviews.com}}</ref> In the early 2010s, the USPS renamed APCs to '''Self-Service Kiosks''' ('''SSKs''').<ref name="Frost">{{Cite news |last=Frost |first=Mary |date=August 2, 2013 |title=After complaints, DUMBO post office reopens |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2013/08/02/after-complaints-dumbo-post-office-reopens/ |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=Brooklyn Eagle}}</ref> Self-Service Kiosks are [[automated]] and are able to weigh and mail parcels, letters and flats, renew postal office boxes, and print postage.<ref name="Baadke">{{Cite news |last=Baadke |first=Michael |date=November 5, 2019 |title=U.S. self-service kiosks won't vend new Christmas labels in 2019 |url=https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/u.s.-self-service-kiosks-won-t-vend-new-christmas-labels-in-2019 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=Linns Stamp News}}</ref>

==== Evolutionary Network Development (END) program ====
In February 2006, the USPS announced that they plan to replace the nine existing facility-types with five processing facility-types:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lunewsviews.com/consolidations.htm |title=Lunewsviews.com |publisher=Lunewsviews.com |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324001913/http://www.lunewsviews.com/consolidations.htm |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Regional Distribution Centers''' ('''RDCs'''), which will process all classes of parcels and bundles and serve as Surface Transfer Centers;
* '''Local Processing Centers''' ('''LPCs'''), which will process single-piece letters and flats and cancel mail;
* '''Destination Processing Centers''' ('''DPC'''), sort the mail for individual letter-carrier route;
* '''Airport Transfer Centers''' ('''ATCs'''), which will serve as transfer points only; and
* '''Remote Encoding Centers''' ('''RECs''').

Over a period of years, these facilities are expected to replace Processing & Distribution Centers, Customer Service Facilities, Bulk Mail Centers, Logistic and Distribution Centers, annexes, the Hub and Spoke Program, Air Mail Centers, and International Service Centers.

The changes are a result of the declining volumes of single-piece First-Class Mail, population shifts, the increase in drop shipments by advertising mailers at destinating postal facilities, advancements in equipment and technology, redundancies in the existing network, and the need for operational flexibility.

The program was ended in early 2007 after an analysis revealed that the significant amount of capital investment required to implement the END network concept would not generate the benefits originally anticipated.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://about.usps.com/postal-act-2006/postal-service-networkplan.htm | title=Postal Accountability And Enhancement Act §&nbsp;302 Network Plan | access-date=May 5, 2020 | archive-date=May 23, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523105341/https://about.usps.com/postal-act-2006/postal-service-networkplan.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Airline and rail division ====
[[File:Boeing 727-223(F), US Postal Service AN0236566.jpg|thumbnail|A former United States Postal Service [[Boeing 727]]-200 aircraft at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1999]]

The United States Postal Service does not directly own or operate any aircraft or trains, although both were formerly operated. The mail and packages are flown on airlines with which the Postal Service has a contractual agreement. The contracts change periodically. Contract airlines have included: [[United Parcel Service|UPS]], [[FedEx Express]], [[American Airlines]], [[United Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Kalitta Air]], [[Amerijet International|AmeriJet]], [[Amazon Air|Amazon]], [[Northern Air Cargo]], and others.

The last air delivery route in the continental U.S., to residents in the [[Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness]], was scheduled to be ended in June 2009. The weekly [[bush plane]] route, contracted out to an [[air taxi]] company, had in its final year an annual cost of $46,000, or $2400/year per residence, over ten times the average cost of delivering mail to a residence in the United States.<ref name="idaho">[https://wheretobuyastamp.com/ Where to Buy Stamps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903152355/https://wheretobuyastamp.com/ |date=September 3, 2018 }}'</ref> This decision has been reversed by the U.S. postmaster general.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://minnick.house.gov/2009/05/idaho-delegation-gets-reversal-on-backcountry-mail-delivery-decision.shtml| title= Idaho delegation gets reversal on backcountry mail delivery decision| website= Press release | date=May 7, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090527230620/http://minnick.house.gov/2009/05/idaho-delegation-gets-reversal-on-backcountry-mail-delivery-decision.shtml| archive-date= May 27, 2009| publisher= House.gov | access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref>

==== Parcel forwarding and private interchange ====
Private US parcel forwarding or US mail forwarding companies focusing on personal shopper, relocation, Ex-pat and mail box services often interface with the United States Postal Service for transporting of mail and packages for their customers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm|title=Forward Mail {{!}} USPS|website=www.usps.com|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125025859/https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm|archive-date=January 25, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Delivery timing ===
[[File:Usmailcontractor.jpg|thumb|USPS contractor-driven [[semi-trailer truck]] seen near [[Mendota, California]]]]
[[File:2008-08-06 Postal delivery van in Durham.jpg|thumb|1998 United States Postal Service Ford Windstar, showing the larger driver's side door]]

==== Delivery days ====
From 1810, mail was delivered seven days a week. In 1828, local religious leaders noticed a decline in Sunday-morning church attendance because of local post offices' doubling as gathering places. These leaders appealed to the government to intervene and close post offices on Sundays. The government, however, declined, and mail was delivered seven days a week until 1912.<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://atheism.about.com/b/a/242048.htm About.com, "Sunday Mail Service in a Christian Nation", Austin Cline, February 19, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906100319/http://atheism.about.com/b/a/242048.htm |date=September 6, 2008 }}. Retrieved October 10, 2007.</ref><ref name="The Atlantic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/11/the-unlikely-alliance-that-ended-sunday-mail-delivery-in-1912/281370/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214003537/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/11/the-unlikely-alliance-that-ended-sunday-mail-delivery-in-1912/281370/|url-status=dead|title=The Unlikely Alliance That Ended Sunday Mail Delivery ... in 1912|first=Megan|last=Garber|date=November 12, 2013|archive-date=February 14, 2017|website=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref> Since then, U.S. Mail (with the exception of Express Mail)<ref>[http://www.usps.com/serviceperformance/dayofmailing.htm USPS – Express Mail Delivery Chart] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929150736/http://www.usps.com/serviceperformance/dayofmailing.htm |date=September 29, 2007 }}. Retrieved October 10, 2007.</ref> has not been delivered on Sunday.

Saturday delivery was temporarily suspended in April 1957, because of lack of funds, but quickly restored.<ref>[http://www.onthisday.com/events/april/13 Historyorb.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035351/http://www.onthisday.com/events/april/13 |date=January 2, 2016 }}, events April 13.</ref><ref>[http://www.onthisday.com/events/april/15 Historyorb.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035351/http://www.onthisday.com/events/april/15 |date=January 2, 2016 }}, events April 15</ref>

Budget problems prompted consideration of dropping Saturday delivery starting around 2009. This culminated in a 2013 announcement that regular mail services would be cut to five days a week, which was reversed by Congress before it could take effect. (See the section [[#Revenue decline and planned cuts|Revenue decline and planned cuts]].)

==== Direct delivery vs. customer pickup ====
Originally, mail was not delivered to homes and businesses, but to post offices. In 1863, "city delivery" began in urban areas with enough customers to make this economical. This required streets to be named, houses to be numbered, with sidewalks and lighting provided, and these street addresses to be added to envelopes.<ref name="city delivery">{{cite web |title=City Delivery |website=Postal History |publisher=USPS |url=http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/city-delivery.pdf |access-date=January 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305100057/http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/city-delivery.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The number of routes served expanded over time. In 1891, the first experiments with [[Rural Free Delivery]] began in less densely populated areas.

To compensate for high mail volume and slow long-distance transportation which saw mail arrive at post offices throughout the day, deliveries were made multiple times a day. This ranged from twice for residential areas to up to seven times for the central business district of [[Brooklyn]], New York.<ref name="deliveries per day">[http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/DeliveriesperDay.pdf Deliveries per Day] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509022313/http://www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/DeliveriesperDay.pdf |date=May 9, 2009 }}. (PDF). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> In the late 19th century, mail boxes were encouraged, saving carriers the time it took to deliver directly to the addressee in person. During the 1910s and 1920s, they were phased in as a requirement for service.<ref name="city delivery" /> In the 1940s, multiple daily deliveries began to be reduced, especially on Saturdays. By 1990, the last twice-daily deliveries in New York City were eliminated.

Since then, mail is delivered once a day to most private homes and businesses. The USPS still distinguishes between city delivery (where carriers generally walk and deliver to mailboxes hung on exterior walls or porches, or to commercial reception areas) and rural delivery (where carriers generally drive).<ref>[http://www.usps.com/receive/businesssolutions/cityruralandgeneraldelivery.htm?from=receiveyourmail&page=homedelivery Home Delivery]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723225613/http://www.usps.com/receive/businesssolutions/cityruralandgeneraldelivery.htm?from=receiveyourmail&page=homedelivery |date=July 23, 2011 }}. USPS (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> With "curbside delivery", mailboxes are at the ends of driveways, on the nearest convenient road. "Central point delivery" is used in some locations, where several nearby residences share a "cluster" of individual mailboxes in a single housing.

Some customers choose to use [[post office box]]es for an additional fee, for privacy or convenience. This provides a locked box at the post office to which mail is addressed and delivered (usually earlier in the day than home delivery). Customers in less densely populated areas where there is no city delivery and who do not qualify for rural delivery may receive mail only through post office boxes. High-volume business customers can also arrange for special pick-up.<ref>[http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c{15ca7f10-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000} USPS FAQ – Caller Service], multiple pickups for a fee{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>[http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c{1624ad00-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000} USPS FAQ – Firm Holdout Service], free pickup once a day{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Another option is the old-style [[general delivery]], for people who have neither post office boxes nor street addresses. Mail is held at the post office until they present identification and pick it up.

Some customers receive free post office boxes if the USPS declines to provide door-to-door delivery to their location or a nearby box.<ref>[http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c{0d389670-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000} USPS FAQ – Do I qualify for free box service?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134730/http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb%3AUSPSFAQ&view%28%29=c%7B0d389670-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D |date=March 24, 2012 }}. Faq.usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> People with medical problems can request door-to-door delivery.<ref>[https://faq.usps.com/s/article/If-I-have-Hardship-or-Medical-Problems-how-do-I-request-Door-Delivery} USPS FAQ – Hardship / Medical Problems] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134740/http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb%3AUSPSFAQ&view%28%29=c%7B03a36ea0-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D |date=March 24, 2012 }}. Faq.usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Homeless]] people are also eligible for post office boxes at the discretion of the local postmaster, or can use general delivery.<ref>[http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c{0a4e47c0-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000} USPS FAQ – Mail service available for the homeless] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134748/http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb%3AUSPSFAQ&view%28%29=c%7B0a4e47c0-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D |date=March 24, 2012 }}. Faq.usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Special delivery ====
From 1885 to 1997, a service called [[special delivery (postal service)|special delivery]] was available, which caused a separate delivery to the final location earlier in the day than the usual daily rounds.

==== Same-day trials ====
In December 2012, the USPS began a limited one-year trial of same-day deliveries directly from retailers or distribution hubs to residential addresses in the same local area, a service it dubbed "Metro Post".<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|title=Post office tests same-day delivery|date=November 23, 2012|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/11/23/cash-strapped-post-office-tests-same-day-delivery/EeG60PN9dhT9N7cdfMyj7J/story.html|access-date=June 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629183904/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/11/23/cash-strapped-post-office-tests-same-day-delivery/EeG60PN9dhT9N7cdfMyj7J/story.html|archive-date=June 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Target |url=https://www.usps.com/metropost/ |title=USPS.com – Metro Post |publisher=Usps.com |date=March 28, 2011 |access-date=March 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613090157/https://www.usps.com/metropost/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The trial was initially limited to San Francisco and the only retailer to participate in the first few weeks was [[1-800-FLOWERS]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=EcommerceBytes.com|date=January 14, 2013|first=Kenneth|last=Corbin|title=USPS Adding Retailers to Same Day Delivery Trial|url=http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y13/m01/i14/s04|access-date=February 11, 2013|archive-date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120030907/http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y13/m01/i14/s04/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2013, the Postal Service began regular package delivery on Sundays for Amazon customers in New York and Los Angeles,<ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph |last=Adinolfi |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/terms-deal-us-postal-service-usps-deliver-amazon-amzn-packages-not-revealed-usps-or-1470726 |title=Terms Of Deal For US Postal Service (USPS) To Deliver Amazon (AMZN) Packages Not Revealed By USPS Or Amazon |website=[[International Business Times]] |date=November 14, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102035351/http://www.ibtimes.com/terms-deal-us-postal-service-usps-deliver-amazon-amzn-packages-not-revealed-usps-or-1470726 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> which it expanded to 15 cities in May 2014.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bishop |first=Todd |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2014/amazon-expands-sunday-delivery-15-cities-deal-u-s-postal-service/ |title=Amazon and USPS expand Sunday delivery to 15 more cities, will reach 'large portion' of U.S. this year |work=GeekWire |date=May 7, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223050133/http://www.geekwire.com/2014/amazon-expands-sunday-delivery-15-cities-deal-u-s-postal-service/ |archive-date=February 23, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Amazon Sunday delivery has been expanded to most major markets as of September 2015.

==== Forwarding and holds ====
Residential customers can fill out a form in-person or online to forward mail to a new address, and can also send pre-printed forms to any of their frequent correspondents. They must have a valid address to forward their mail from ''and'' to, and verify their identity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Standard Forward Mail & Change of Address |url=https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm |website=usps.com |access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref> They can also put their mail on "hold", for example, while on vacation. The Post Office will store mail during the hold, instead of letting it overflow in the mailbox. These services are not available to large buildings and customers of a [[commercial mail receiving agency]],<ref>[http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c{11d2df10-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000} USPS FAQ – Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324134758/http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb%3AUSPSFAQ&view%28%29=c%7B11d2df10-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D |date=March 24, 2012 }}. Faq.usps.com (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.{{dead link|date=January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> where mail is subsorted by non-Post Office employees into individual mailboxes.

==== First-class packages ====
In April 2022, the USPS announced it would slow deliveries of almost one third of first-class packages as it sought to rely less on air transportation and find cost savings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Seal |first=Dean |date=April 18, 2022 |title=U.S. Postal Service to Slow First-Class Package Delivery |language=en-US |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-postal-service-to-slow-first-class-package-delivery-11650310634 |access-date=April 28, 2022 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref name="NPRServiceTimes" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Manfredi |first=Lucas |date=April 19, 2022 |title=US Postal Service to slow down nearly a third of first-class package deliveries |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/us-postal-service-first-class-package-deliveries |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=FOXBusiness |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2022 |title=Here's why packages might not arrive as quickly as they used to |url=https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/4/25/23041178/postal-service-delivery-changes-why-packages-slow-delivery-inflation-stamp-rates |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref> In July 2023, USPS eliminated First-Class package service and replaced it with USPS Ground Advantage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is USPS Ground Advantage: A Guide |url=https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/blog/what-is-usps-ground-advantage.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Pitney Bowes |language=en}}</ref> USPS also greatly reduced the use of air transportation for First Class Mail letters and flats. 

== Financial services ==

Postal [[money order]]s provide a safe alternative to sending [[cash]] through the mail, and are available in any amount up to $1,000. Like a [[cheque|bank check]], money orders are cashable only by the recipient. Unlike a personal bank check, they are prepaid and therefore cannot be returned because of insufficient funds.<ref>[http://www.usps.com/money/sendingmoney/moneyorders/welcome.htm Domestic Money Orders]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723222824/http://www.usps.com/money/sendingmoney/moneyorders/welcome.htm |date=July 23, 2011 }}. USPS (November 26, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> Money orders are a declining business for the USPS, as companies like [[PayPal]], [[Venmo]] and others are offering electronic replacements.

From 1911 to 1967, the Postal Service also operated the [[United States Postal Savings System]], not unlike a [[savings and loan association]] with the amount of the deposit limited.<ref name="postal savings system">{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/postal-savings-system.pdf |title=Postal Savings System by Historian, United States Postal Service, July 2008 |access-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114081647/http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-history/postal-savings-system.pdf |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A January 2014 report by the inspector general of the USPS suggested that the agency could earn $8.9&nbsp;billion per year in revenue by providing financial services, especially in areas where there are no local banks but there is a local post office, and to customers who currently do not have bank accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2015/rarc-wp-14-007_0.pdf|title=Providing Non-Bank Financial Services for the Underserved|date=January 17, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016081958/https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/document-library-files/2015/rarc-wp-14-007_0.pdf|archive-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Employment ==
[[File:United States Postal Service rural letter carrier, 2006.jpg|thumb|A Rural Letter Carrier from [[Fort Myers, Florida]]]]

The Postal Service is the nation's second-largest civilian employer.<ref name="postalfacts-2011">{{cite web |title=2011 Postal Facts |publisher=U.S. Postal Service |year=2011 |url=http://about.usps.com/future-postal-service/postalfacts-2011.pdf |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018101942/http://about.usps.com/future-postal-service/postalfacts-2011.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=live }}&nbsp;– There is also [http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-facts/welcome.htm a web version of the content] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924065051/http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/postal-facts/welcome.htm |date=September 24, 2011 }}</ref> As of 2023, it employed 525,469 career employees and 115,000 non-career personnel, divided among offices, processing centers, and actual post offices.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 2024 |title=Size and Scope |url=https://facts.usps.com/size-and-scope/ |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=facts.usps.com}}</ref> The United States Postal Service would rank 43rd on the 2021 [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] list, if it was a private company<ref name="USPS_SizeAndScope" /> and ranks 136 on Global Fortune 500 list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fortune.com/global500/2019/u-s-postal-service|title=U.S. Postal Service|website=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|language=en|access-date=September 9, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523105352/https://fortune.com/global500/2019/u-s-postal-service/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A major round of job cuts, early retirements, and a construction freeze were announced on March 20, 2009.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/20/post.office.cuts/index.html | publisher=[[CNN]]| title=Postal service to slash more than 3,000 jobs, offer early retirements | date=March 20, 2009 | access-date=May 26, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410184821/http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/20/post.office.cuts/index.html | archive-date=April 10, 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Workplace violence ===
{{See also|Edmond post office shooting|List of postal killings#United States}}

In the early 1990s, widely publicized [[Workplace violence|workplace shootings]] by disgruntled employees at USPS facilities led to a Human Resource effort to provide care for stressed workers and resources for coworker conflicts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22341/html/info_003.htm#ep1440011 |title=Human Resources |publisher=About.usps.com |access-date=March 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627021829/http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22341/html/info_003.htm#ep1440011 |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to media coverage, postal employees gained a reputation among the general public as more likely to be [[Mental disorder|mentally ill]]. The USPS Commission on a Safe and Secure Workplace found that "Postal workers are only a third as likely as those in the national workforce to be victims of homicide at work."<ref>[http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_0131commission.htm USPS Commission on a Safe and Secure Workplace, January 31, 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629130030/http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_0131commission.htm |date=June 29, 2011 }}. Retrieved October 10, 2007.</ref> In the documentary ''Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal'', it was argued that this number failed to factor out workers killed by external subjects rather than by fellow employees.

This series of events in turn has influenced American culture, as seen in the slang term "[[going postal]]".<ref name="vick">Vick, Karl, "Violence at work tied to loss of esteem", ''St. Petersburg Times'', December 17, 1993</ref><ref>"The Year in Review 1993", ''Los Angeles Times'', December 31, 1993</ref>

== In fiction ==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
* In the film ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'' (1947), the identity of [[Santa Claus|Kris Kringle]] (played by [[Edmund Gwenn]]) as the one and only "[[Santa Claus]]" was validated by a state court, based on the delivery of 21 bags of mail (famously carried into the courtroom) to the character in question. The contention was that it would have been illegal for the United States Post Office to deliver mail that was addressed to "Santa Claus" to the character "Kris Kringle" unless he were, in fact, the one and only Santa Claus. Judge Henry X. Harper (played by [[Gene Lockhart]]) ruled that since the U.S. Government had demonstrated through the delivery of the bags of mail that Kris Kringle was Santa Claus, the [[State of New York]] did not have the authority to overrule that decision.
* The novel ''[[Post Office (novel)|Post Office]]'' (1971), written by poet and novelist [[Charles Bukowski]], is a semi-autobiographical account of his life over the years as a letter carrier. Bukowski would, under duress, quit and years later return as a mail clerk. His personal account would detail the work at lengths as frustrating, menial, boring, and degrading.
* [[David Brin]]'s novel ''[[The Postman]]'' (1985) portrays the USPS and its returned services as a staple to revive the United States government in a post-apocalyptic world. It was [[The Postman (film)|adapted as a film]] starring [[Kevin Costner]] and [[Larenz Tate]] in 1997.
* In 2015, ''[[The Inspectors (TV series)|The Inspectors]]'', which depicts a group of postal inspectors investigating postal crimes, debuted on [[CBS]]. The series uses the USPIS seal and features messages and tips from the Chief Postal Inspector at the end of each episode.
* [[Signed, Sealed, Delivered (TV series)|''Signed, Sealed, Delivered'']] (original title: ''Dead Letters''), also known as Lost Letter Mysteries, is an American-Canadian drama/romantic comedy television series that aired on the [[Hallmark Channel]] from April 20 through June 22, 2014.
* In the horror film [[Jacob's Ladder (1990 film)]] the main character Jacob Singer (played by [[Tim Robbins]]) is an army veteran and letter carrier in New York City.

== See also ==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[Postage stamps and postal history of the United States]]
* [[Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal]]
* [[List of national postal services#The Americas]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="USPSFY22">{{cite web |url=https://about.usps.com/what/financials/annual-reports/fy2022.pdf |title=Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report to Congress |publisher=United States Postal Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905143858/https://about.usps.com/what/financials/annual-reports/fy2022.pdf |archive-date=September 5, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name="USPSFY23">{{cite web |url=https://about.usps.com/what/financials/annual-reports/fy2023.pdf |title=Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report to Congress |publisher=United States Postal Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103101213/https://about.usps.com/what/financials/annual-reports/fy2023.pdf |archive-date=January 3, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=January 25, 2024}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last1=Adelman |first1=Joseph M. |title="A Constitutional Conveyance of Intelligence, Public and Private": The Post Office, the Business of Printing, and the American Revolution |journal=Enterprise & Society |date=2010 |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=709–752 |doi=10.1093/es/khq079 |jstor=  |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/enterprise_and_society/v011/11.4.adelman.html |access-date= |issn=1467-2235|url-access=subscription }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Aneja |first1=Abhay |last2=Xu |first2=Guo |title=Strengthening State Capacity: Postal Reform and Innovation during the Gilded Age |journal=NBER Working Papers |date=March 2022 |issue=29852 |pages= |doi=10.3386/w29852 |ssrn= 4062403 |url=https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w29852/w29852.pdf  |access-date= |publisher=National Bureau of Economic Research |language=en}}, uses advanced statistics.
* {{cite journal |last1=Bergmann |first1=William H. |title=Delivering a Nation through the Mail: The Post Office in the Ohio Valley, 1789–1815 |journal=Ohio Valley History |date=2008 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=1–18 |doi= |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/272/article/567347/summary |access-date= |issn=2377-0600}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Carpenter |first1=Daniel P. |title=State Building through Reputation Building: Coalitions of Esteem and Program Innovation in the National Postal System, 1883–1913 |journal=Studies in American Political Development |date=October 2000 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=121–155 |doi=10.1017/S0898588X00003382 |url=http://urban.hunter.cuny.edu/~schram/Grad%20American/Overviews%20&%20Syntheses/Bureaucracy/Carpenter.State%20Building%20Thru%20Reputation.pdf |access-date= |issn= }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* DeBlois, Diane, Robert Dalton Harris, and West Sand Lake. "[https://stamps.org/Portals/0/Symposium/16-DeBlois-Paper.pdf Newspapers in the Mails: Strategic Unification under the Franklin/Hunter Dual Postmaster Generalship.]" ''Postal History Symposium'' (2016) it started in 1758.
* Devin, Leonard. ''Neither Snow Nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service'' (Grove Atlantic, 2016) popular history [https://www.amazon.com/Neither-Snow-Nor-Rain-History/dp/080215901X/ excerpt]
* {{cite journal |last1=Foley |first1=Michael S. |title=A Mission Unfulfilled: The Post Office and the Distribution of Information in Rural New England, 1821-1835 |journal=Journal of the Early Republic |date=1997 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=611–650 |doi=10.2307/3124318 |jstor=3124318 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3124318 |access-date= |issn=0275-1275|url-access=subscription }}
* Fuller, Wayne. ''[[iarchive:americanmailenla0000fullonline|American Mail: Enlarger of the Common Life]]'' (1972)
** Fuller, Wayne E. ''[[iarchive:moralitymailinni0000full|Morality and the mail in nineteenth-century America]]'' (University of Illinois Press, 2003)
** Fuller, Wayne E. ''[[iarchive:rfdchangingfaceo00full|RFD, the changing face of rural America]]'' (1964)
** {{cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Wayne E. |title=Good Roads and Rural Free Delivery of Mail |journal=The Mississippi Valley Historical Review |date=1955 |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=67–83 |doi=10.2307/1898624 |jstor=1898624 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1898624 |access-date= |issn=0161-391X|url-access=subscription }}
** {{cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Wayne E. |title=The South and the Rural Free Delivery of Mail |journal=The Journal of Southern History |date=1959 |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=499–521 |doi=10.2307/2954453 |jstor=2954453 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2954453 |access-date= |issn=0022-4642|url-access=subscription }}
** {{cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=Wayne E. |title=The Populists and the Post Office |journal=Agricultural History |date=1991 |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=1–16 |jstor=3743678 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3743678 |access-date= |issn=0002-1482}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gallagher |first1=Winifred |title=How the Post Office Created America |date=2017 |publisher=Penguin |location=New York |isbn= |pages=326 pp |url= }}
* Hafen, LeRoy R. ''[[iarchive:overlandmail18490000hafe/page/n5/mode/1up|The Overland Mail, 1849–1869: Promoter of Settlement, Precursor of Railroads]]'' (1926)
* Henkin, David M. ''[https://www.amazon.com/The-Postal-Age-Communications-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0226327213/ The Postal Age: The Emergence of Modern Communications in Nineteenth-Century Americ] a'' (2007)
* {{cite journal |last1=Hoyos |first1=Roman J. |title=The People's Privilege: The Franking Privilege, Constituent Correspondence, and Political Representation in Mid-Nineteenth Century America |journal=Law and History Review |date=February 2013 |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=101–138 |doi=10.1017/S0738248012000843 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-history-review/article/peoples-privilege-the-franking-privilege-constituent-correspondence-and-political-representation-in-midnineteenth-century-america/5CA9C5BAE6877C60A8097478349A6A9D |access-date= |language=en |issn=0738-2480|url-access=subscription }}
* John, Richard R. ''[https://www.amazon.com/Spreading-News-American-Postal-Franklin/dp/0674833422/ Spreading the News: The American Postal System From Franklin to Morse]'' (1998)
* {{cite journal |last1=Kielbowicz |first1=Richard B. |title=Government Goes into Business: Parcel Post in the Nation's Political Economy, 1880–1915 |journal=Studies in American Political Development |date=1994 |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=150–172 |doi=10.1017/S0898588X00000109 |access-date= |language=en |issn=0898-588X}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Kielbowicz |first1=Richard B. |title=The Press, Post Office, and Flow of News in the Early Republic |journal=Journal of the Early Republic |date=1983 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=255–280 |doi=10.2307/3122616 |jstor=3122616 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3122616 |access-date= |issn=0275-1275|url-access=subscription }}
* Kielbowicz, Richard. ''[https://www.amazon.com/News-Mail-Information-1700-1860s-Contributions/dp/0313266387/ News in the Mail: The Press, Post Office, and Public Information, 1700–1860s]'' (1989)
* {{cite journal |last1=Kernell |first1=Samuel |last2=McDonald |first2=Michael P. |title=Congress and America's Political Development: The Transformation of the Post Office from Patronage to Service |journal=American Journal of Political Science |date=1999 |volume=43 |issue=3 |pages=792–811 |doi=10.2307/2991835 |jstor=2991835 |pmid= |url=http://pages.ucsd.edu/~skernell/styled/documents/rfdajps.pdf  |access-date= |issn=0092-5853}}, focus on Rural Free Delivery issue in 1890s.
* {{cite book| title=Neither Snow nor Rain: A History of the United States Postal Service| last=Leonard| first=Devin| isbn=978-0-8021-2458-6| year=2016| publisher=Grove Press}}
* {{cite journal|jstor=1832885|title=The Organization of the Post-Office Department of the Confederacy|journal=The American Historical Review|volume=12|issue=1|pages=66–74|last1=McCaleb|first1=Walter Flavius|year=1906|doi=10.2307/1832885}}
* Musacco Ph.D., Stephen. "Beyond Going Postal: Shifting from Workplace Tragedies and Toxic Work Environments to a Safe and Healthy Organization", (2009) Booksurge Publishing, [http://vimeo.com/3843321/ Book Trailer]
* {{cite journal |last1=Priest |first1=George L. |title=The History of the Postal Monopoly in the United States |journal=The Journal of Law and Economics |date=April 1975 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=33–80 |doi=10.1086/466806 |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/466806?journalCode=jle |access-date= |issn=0022-2186|url-access=subscription }}
* Rich, Wesley Everett. ''[[iarchive:historyofuniteds0027unse|The History of the United States Post Office to the Year 1829]]'' (Harvard University Press, 1924)
* {{cite book |last1=Rubio |first1=Philip F. |title=Undelivered: From the Great Postal Strike of 1970 to the Manufactured Crisis of the U.S. Postal Service |date=25 March 2020 |publisher=UNC Press Books |isbn=978-1-4696-5547-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fXGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |access-date= |language=en}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Rubio |first1=Philip F. |title=Unintended Consequences: the U.S. Postal Service Conundrum of Service, Business, Labor, and Politics |journal=Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal |date=1 June 2021 |volume=33 |issue=2 |pages=125–141 |doi=10.1007/s10672-021-09368-0 |pmid=40477260 |pmc=8009635 |language=en |issn=1573-3378}}. On the postal crisis of 2020
* Scheele,  Carl H. ''[[iarchive:shorthistoryofma00sche|A Short History of the Mail Service]]'' (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1970), with long bibliography
* {{cite book |last1=Shaw |first1=Christopher W. |title=First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat |date=9 November 2021 |publisher=City Lights Books |isbn=978-0-87286-855-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sHsqEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT6 |access-date= |language=en}}
* {{cite journal|jstor=1835049|title=The Colonial Post-Office|journal=The American Historical Review|volume=21|issue=2|pages=258–75|last1=Smith|first1=William|year=1916|doi=10.2307/1835049}}
* {{cite book|title=The United States Postal Service: An American History|url=https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100.pdf|date=2022|publisher=United States Postal Service|isbn= 978-0-9630952-5-1|quote=Publication 100|access-date=November 19, 2022|location=Washington, D.C.}}
* White, Leonard D. ''[[iarchive:federalistsstudy0000leon|The Federalists: A study in administrative history: 1789–1801]]'' (1948), pp 173–98
** White, Leonard D. ''[[iarchive:jeffersoniansstu0000leon|The Jeffersonians: A study in administrative history: 1801–29]]'' (1950), pp 299–335
** White, Leonard D. ''[[iarchive:jacksoniansstudy0000leon|The Jacksonians: A study in administrative history: 1829–6]]1'' (1954), pp 251–83
** White, Leonard D. ''[[iarchive:republicanera0000leon|The Republican Era: A study in administrative history: 1869–1901]]'' (1963), pp 257–77

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/postal-service United States Postal Service] in the ''[[Federal Register]]''

{{United States Postal Service}}
{{Postal system}}
{{Postal administrations of North America}}
{{Americas topic|Post of}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:United States Postal Service| ]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Express mail]]
[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government|Postal Service]]
[[Category:Postal organizations]]
[[Category:Postal system of the United States]]
[[Category:Transportation companies based in Washington, D.C.]]