The United States Postal Service is set to transition into the Commerce Department. For years prior to this decision, the Postal Service has experienced loss across various regions.
In 2024, USPS had a net loss of $9.5 billion, making budget deficits only one of the ongoing issues. Due to the rise of digital communication, USPS has also seen a decline in first-class mail volume.
“I would hope people don’t lose trust in the post office because we are dedicated to taking care of our customers no matter who controls the postal service.” – Kenny Nash, USPS Covington Office Supervisor
By placing the USPS under the command of the Commerce Department, officials believe they can expand the agency’s ability to meet the customers needs and keep up with a fast pace and evolving economy.
Currently, USPS employees are forbidden from striking. This happened because of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which was approved after labor actions had taken place and had caused a halt in mail delivery.
If the USPS follows into the current path of privatization, this restriction would be dropped, allowing postal workers the opportunity to participate in labor actions which could potentially lead to another halt in the mail delivery process.
Kenny Nash, a supervisor at the USPS office in Covington, attempted to reassure customers. “This will not affect daily operations,” he said.”We will be the same and we are still going to take care of our customers.”
Carl Cavalli, a University of North Georgia political science professor, discussed the broader structure of the transition. “There probably will not be much of a difference immediately,” he said. “The USPS Board of Governors is required to be politically balanced and not run the postal service under direct influence of anyone. Congress has the power to create post offices and postal roads and this transition can’t be done without congressional approval.”
There could also be a leading shift in urban versus rural areas. Urban areas garnish more worth rather than rural areas, which cost more money to deliver to. With the Trump administration trying to save money and making cost cuts, people living and delivering to rural areas could potentially be affected in long term circumstances.
Cavalli commented on the impact of this change on rural areas, saying it is going to be hard to keep a positive outcome. “Americans that rely on the USPS could be the ones that are affected the most by this privatization,” he said.
With the constitutional requirements in place, it is not likely that the USPS sees any harsh changes in the near future.
“It would take an act of congress for the President to move control to the commerce department and congress can still jump in and say they have the power,” Cavalli said. “If the USPS does undergo changes, I would foresee the post office becoming another package delivery service that competes with other services like Fedex.”
Michael J Walker • Mar 6, 2025 at 7:36 pm
We are a Service, all other deliver operations are profit driven business, when customers stop buying stamps and take down their mailbox, we will still be the only physical communication line to the entire country, every address, almost everyday.
L • Mar 8, 2025 at 2:55 am
Yes, universal service, under current set up. Medicines ect. A stalwart of real physical citizen and business connections. An important part of American infrastructure and culture. Better recruitment and retention via better starting pay would help improve delivery issues suffering from understaffed locations.
Annette Edwards • Mar 5, 2025 at 11:40 pm
The current head of the USPS was appointed by the current POTUS in his first term. All he did was raise the rates of everything, close offices, remove mailboxes ( specifically prior to elections), and slow the mail delivery to a snails pace. Another fine example of the current POTUS not having a clue what he is doing and doing everything to make America anything but great again.
Stephen Leis • Mar 5, 2025 at 8:49 pm
The USPS has lost more of my packages packages being late more than 10 days or never showing up at all this winter they have failed to deliver three packages of mine on time they lost a money order of mine that I got at the post office to renew my license plates on my vehicle I ended up having to wait 90 days to get a refund and I had to pay for it $20 for something that they lost I think the United States is done with the USPS we wish they would stop delivery mail altogether I will not do any more business with them whatsoever if I have a letter that needs to be mailed I will have FedEx first class you can tell by Google reviews how bad they are none of them has a rating over two stars sick of them