Postal Service: Difference between revisions

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 {{!}} PBS|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=live}}</ref> The [[United States Post Office Department|Post Office Department]] was created in 1792 with the passage of the [[Postal Service Act]]. The appointment of local postmasters was a major venue for delivering patronage jobs to the party that controlled the White House. Newspaper editors often were named.  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> Since the early 1980s, many direct tax subsidies to the USPS (with the exception of subsidies for costs associated with disabled and overseas voters) have been reduced or eliminated.<ref name="PBS 5 things">{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/five-things/the-u-s-postal-service/11433/ |title=The U.S. Postal Service; PBS|date=November 13, 2011|publisher=PBS|url-status=live|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}}</ref>

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 [[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 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>

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, revenue had increased to $79.32&nbsp;billion, but reported a net loss of $6.48&nbsp;billion.<ref name="USPSFY23" />

Proposals to cancel the funding obligation and plan a new schedule for the debt were introduced in Congress as early as 2016.<ref>{{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> 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>{{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> 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>

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 14th, 2024 the cost of postage increased to 73 cents for first class mail.<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>

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>

In May 2020, in a controversial move, the [[Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service]] appointed [[Louis DeJoy]], the first postmaster general in the last two decades who did not emerge from the postal bureaucracy.  Instead he had three decades of experience in the private delivery sector where he created a new national corporation with 80,000 employees.<ref>Mackenzie Dunn, "From Family Business to million dollar corporation, entrepreneur Louis DeJoy shares his success story" [https://www.elonnewsnetwork.com/article/2016/04/louis-dejoy-shares-his-success-story From Family Business to million dollar corporation, entrepreneur Louis DeJoy shares his success story ''Elon News Network''  4/14/16]</ref><ref name="congress_urges_2020_08_06_ap_archive_org">{{cite news|date=August 6, 2020|title=Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail|website=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://apnews.com/a291ebc31c5638aa5a9adafc2ff2b430|access-date=August 6, 2020|agency=[[AP News]]|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806210601/https://apnews.com/a291ebc31c5638aa5a9adafc2ff2b430|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=2020-05-07 |title=Postal Service Pick With Ties to Trump Raises Concerns Ahead of 2020 Election |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/us/politics/postmaster-general-louis-dejoy.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

DeJoy—until 2014 CEO of [[New Breed Logistics]] (a controversial Postal Service contractor),<ref name="contracts_questioned_2020_16_11_nbc_news">{{cite web|title=Postal contracts awarded to DeJoy-run company were questioned in 2001 Postal Service audit|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/postal-contracts-awarded-dejoy-run-company-were-questioned-2001-postal-n1239990|access-date=September 14, 2020|website=[[NBC News]]|date=September 14, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050805/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/postal-contracts-awarded-dejoy-run-company-were-questioned-2001-postal-n1239990|url-status=live}}</ref> and until 2018 a board member its new parent, [[XPO Logistics]], whose postal contracts expanded during DeJoy's postmaster general role—was a major donor and fundraiser for the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]<ref name="embattled_2020_08_20_apnews_com">{{cite news |last1=Izaguirre |first1=Anthony |last2=Slodysko |first2=Brian |title=Embattled postal leader is Trump donor with deep GOP ties |url=https://apnews.com/aedcc34674344793961666fe82d6d257 |date=August 20, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050726/https://apnews.com/aedcc34674344793961666fe82d6d257 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="house_demands_2020_08_17_washpost">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/17/dejoy-postal-service-house-protest/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=As the House demands an interview with Postal Service chief Louis DeJoy, protesters picket his homes|date=August 17, 2020|last=Armus|first=Teo|access-date=August 29, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050808/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/08/17/dejoy-postal-service-house-protest/|url-status=live}}</ref> (from 2017, a deputy finance chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]], until appointed postmaster general, and later million-dollar donor to the 2020 Trump campaign while postmaster general).<ref name="embattled_2020_08_20_apnews_com" /><ref name="house_demands_2020_08_17_washpost" /><ref name="dejoy_defends20200821politico">{{cite web |last1=Desiderio |first1=Andrew |last2=Levine |first2=Marianne |last3=Lippman |first3=Daniel |title=DeJoy defends proposed changes amid Postal Service furor |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/21/dejoy-postal-service-hearing-399659 |date=August 21, 2020 |work=[[Politico]] |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050726/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/21/dejoy-postal-service-hearing-399659 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="whats_wrong_2020_08_07_vox">{{cite web |last=Estes |first=Adam Clark |date=August 7, 2020 |title=What's wrong with the mail |url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/8/7/21358946/postal-service-mail-delays-election-trump-mail-in-ballots |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]] |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050726/https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/8/7/21358946/postal-service-mail-delays-election-trump-mail-in-ballots |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pierce |first=Charles P. |date=August 10, 2020 |title=Destroying the Postal Service Is the Most Republican Thing Trump Has Ever Done |url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a33565671/trump-destroy-postal-service-louis-dejoy/ |access-date=August 11, 2020 |website=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050818/https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a33565671/trump-destroy-postal-service-louis-dejoy/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pres_partner_fundraiser_2017_05_26_wnyc_org">{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=Andrea |last2=Marritz |first2=Ilya |date=May 26, 2017 |title=The President, His Business Partner, and the Fundraiser |url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/president-his-business-partner-and-fundraiser/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050844/https://www.wnyc.org/story/president-his-business-partner-and-fundraiser/ |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=August 13, 2020 |website=WNYC |language=en}}</ref><ref name="lead_fundraiser_2020_05_07_bizjournals_archive_org">{{cite magazine |last=Finnegan |first=Daniel |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Lead fundraiser for Charlotte RNC named postmaster general. He starts in June. |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/05/07/lead-fundraiser-for-charlotte-rnc-named-postmaster.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116050746/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/05/07/lead-fundraiser-for-charlotte-rnc-named-postmaster.html |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |magazine=[[Triad Business Journal]] |access-date=August 13, 2020}}</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>

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>

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>

On December 17, 2017, President Trump criticized the postal service's relationship with Amazon. In a post on Twitter, he stated: "Why is the United States Post Office, which is losing many billions of dollars a year, while charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages, making Amazon richer and the Post Office dumber and poorer? Should be charging MUCH MORE!"<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 its contract with the company.<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>  On June 21, 2018, Trump proposed a sweeping reorganization but Congress did not act.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-fix-for-postal-service-privatize-it-1529659801|last=Smith|first=Jennifer|date=June 22, 2018|title=Trump's Fix for Postal Service: Privatize It|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921124706/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trumps-fix-for-postal-service-privatize-it-1529659801|archive-date=September 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[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-->

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>

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>