Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating the dissolution of the US Postal Service (USPS) leadership, integrating it into his administration. This action would eliminate the independence of the 250-year-old agency and could jeopardize the impartiality of the mail delivery system.
According to The Washington Post, preparations are underway for an executive order aimed at dismissing the governing board of the USPS and placing it under the supervision of the new commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick.
In response, the White House swiftly denied these claims, expressing concerns about the implications this could have on mail delivery and the substantial e-commerce transactions managed by USPS.
UJ reported an administration official stating, “This is not true. No such EO [executive order] is in the works, and Secretary Lutnick is not advocating for such an EO.”
However, no information was provided regarding the potential privatization of the postal service, which polls have indicated is the most favored agency in the US after the National Park Service among both Democrats and Republicans. This speculation comes amidst the administration’s efforts to cut public spending and reduce the federal workforce.
Trump proposed the idea of divesting the service, which he has frequently criticized, while still serving as president-elect.
“It’s an idea that many people have supported for a long time,” he stated during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate last December. “We’re considering it.”
During his first presidency, Trump maintained a contentious relationship with the USPS, branding it “a joke” and describing it as Amazon’s “delivery boy.” He even threatened to withhold emergency funding during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic unless the agency significantly increased its package delivery rates.
The then-treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, only approved a loan for the service under the condition of gaining access to its contracts with major clients.
Leading up to the 2020 election, when expanded postal voting due to coronavirus guidelines became critical, Trump alleged that the USPS was unable to manage mail-in voting because his administration was obstructing the needed emergency funding. Nevertheless, the postal service managed to deliver nearly 98% of ballots to election officials within three days of mailing.
Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general appointed near the end of Trump’s first term, recently announced plans to resign, doing so less than halfway through his 10-year term. Trump’s transition team had previously vetted candidates for his replacement before returning to the White House.
The USPS employs approximately 630,000 individuals and reported a net loss of $9.5 billion in the 2024 fiscal year.
It operates post offices in every U.S. zip code, delivering millions of letters and packages each week, which includes medications and e-commerce shipments.
Oversight of its operations is conducted by the Postal Regulatory Committee to ensure equitable delivery practices across all regions and neighborhoods.
The Washington Post also revealed that the postal service’s governors are gearing up to contest any executive order aimed at disbanding it, having convened an emergency meeting on Thursday and secured external legal counsel.
Postal experts warned that placing the USPS under the commerce department’s authority would contravene federal law.
James O’Rourke from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business remarked, “This is a somewhat regal approach that suggests the king believes he knows better than his subjects and will do what he thinks is best for them. However, this also eliminates any perception of oversight, impartiality, and fairness, potentially leading to certain states or cities receiving preferential treatment over others.”
The American Postal Workers Union, which represents many USPS employees, termed any efforts to disband the governors or privatize the service as “outrageous.”
“Any assault on the postal service constitutes a part of the billionaire oligarch coup, aimed not only at the postal workers our union represents but also at the millions of Americans relying on the essential public service our members provide daily,” the union expressed in a statement.
