The United States Postal Service has been in financial trouble for some time now, reporting $8.8 billion in losses in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to its woes. In the first quarter of 2020, the USPS reported even higher losses at $4.5 billion and warned that their earnings would continue to fall for at least 18 more months. Unfortunately, it wasn't wrong in its assumption. As the pandemic worsens, mail usage is slowing down — particularly businesses have cut back on sending advertisem*nts and bulk mail — and the USPS is quickly running out of money to supports its operations.
In April, the agency asked Congress for a relief fund of $89 billion, but President Trump prevented the relief bill from passing. A month later, one of his donors, Louis DeJoy, was named Postmaster General. Since then, overtime has been cut for postal service workers; a hiring freeze has been implemented; mail has been delayed; and suspiciously, letter collection boxes have been removed without explanation. With fears that changes at the USPS are connected to President Trump's false argument that voting by mail leads to fraud — Trump confirmed he's blocking funding to the USPS to stop mail-in-voting when speaking to Fox News on Aug. 13 — and with the USPS already warning some states that it might not be able to deliver ballots on time, calls to save the USPS and protests against its restructuring have widely spread to guarantee that the election proceeds democratically.
The USPS is legally required to deliver all mail (at a flat rate) to any address in the nation, including those that might not be serviced by other mail delivery services. This makes the agency especially important for people living in rural communities or in poverty — meaning if the agency was to go bankrupt, these communities would be hit the hardest. Because other mail carriers like UPS or FedEx can't carry voting ballots, our democracy could be left potentially compromised. The USPS delivers mail-in ballots to remote areas (including tribal lands), ensuring that citizens don't have to travel far to cast their vote.
People with disabilities, those who live in rural areas that can't support a pharmacy, and more than 330,000 veterans also receive their medications through the mail. Without an affordable and accessible postal service, filling out prescriptions can become an impossible task — and, just a reminder, we're still in the middle of a pandemic.
So, what is there to do to help this crucial federal organization?
Buy some stamps
If you've been looking for a hobby, this is the prime time to start your stamp collection. Believe it or not, the USPS has not been receiving taxpayer money since 1982. Instead, it funds its operations through the sale of stamps. You might be uneasy about going to a physical USPS location during the pandemic, but all you actually have to do is go to the USPS online store and place an order. In addition to the plain stamp options, the USPS has a lot of cool, collectible stamps featuring many notable figures like John Lennon, Sally Ride, or even Bugs Bunny.
Buy some USPS merch
You might not know this, but the USPS does not only sell stamps: it also sells USPS-themed merchandise. And what other way is there to show your love for your favorite mailing agency than a tee or tote? The USPS online store has an impressive collection of merchandise, including Santa-as-mailmen ornaments, Marvin Gaye posters, and a crowd-favorite USPS crop top.
Contact your elected officials
There's no better time than right now to pick up the phone and make your voice heard. One way to do that is to call your senators and congressional representatives to let them know you support the USPS relief funds. You can call 844-402-1001 to reach your senators by phone or go to the American Postal Workers Union's website to write a letter to your house representative and senators. You can also sign a petition by texting USPS to 50409, where an automated chat bot will ask for details such as your name and mailing address, then deliver your petition to your local elected officials.
Sign petitions
There are plenty of online petitions urging Congress to veto President Trump's ban on a USPS relief fund, and it takes less than a minute to sign one and show your support. If you don't know where to start, these petitions at Change.org, Action Network, and MoveOn Civic Action are worth a look.
Spread the word
There is strength in numbers, so after buying your stamps and merch, contacting your representatives and signing petitions, make sure to also urge your friends and family to do the same. We can save the USPS if we all work together, so it's extremely important that everyone knows what's at stake. Contact your friends and family, post about the USPS on your social media channels (here are some handy digital flyers you can use), and help gather more people to help out the USPS.
FAQs
Financial help for the Postal Service since 2020
A bullet bar chart of financial assistance for the U.S. Postal Service dating from 2020. But since then, the Postal Service posted a $6.5 billion loss in the 2023 fiscal year, and it's on track to lose more than $8 billion in fiscal 2024, which ends Sept. 30.
How is the USPS doing financially? ›
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Postal Service today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023 - Dec. 31, 2023). The net loss for the quarter totaled $2.1 billion, compared to a net loss of $1.0 billion for the same quarter last year.
How do I resolve a problem with USPS? ›
Select the reason for your complaint, including delivery issues and complaints about USPS employees or facilities. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) or TTY: 711. Locate your local post office to speak with your station manager.
How far in debt is the USPS? ›
We ended 2023 with $21.6 billion in cash ($8.0 billion in unrestricted cash, $1.6 billion in restricted cash, and $12.0 billion in short-term investments) and $13.0 billion of debt.
What is the future of USPS? ›
We're exploring cutting-edge technologies—from Informed Delivery® to smart mail to Virtual Reality and beyond—that will help extend physical mail into the digital world, creating an innovative experience for all of our customers.
Is there a problem with USPS? ›
User reports indicate no current problems at USPS
USPS.com is the website for the United States Postal Service.
Who owns the USPS? ›
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", (39 U.S.C.
How stressful is USPS? ›
5. They may have a high workload. Mail carriers are often responsible for delivering large volumes of mail and packages within tight deadlines, which can be stressful and overwhelming. There are some times of the year that are slower for mail delivery, such as not around the holidays.
Who is the USPS funded by? ›
No, the Postal Service is generally self-funded. This means that no tax dollars are used to keep the lights on at its many facilities across the country. The Postal Service, instead, relies on the revenue it generates from the sale of stamps, products, and services to fund its operations.
How to escalate USPS issues? ›
1-800-ASK-USPS
They also can contact Postal officials nationwide electronically and immediately refer your issue to the appropriate local Postal manager who is in the best position to deal with your concerns.
Office of Inspector General OIG.
How do I talk to an actual person at USPS? ›
Self-service options are available 24/7 by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777). Customer Service representatives are also available to take your calls: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time (Alaska and Hawaii are 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET)
Is the post office in trouble financially? ›
USPS reported a $2.1 billion net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 — more than double its $1 billion net loss for the same period last year. The Postal Service reported a $2.1 billion net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 — more than double its $1 billion net loss for the same period last year.
Why is the USPS in so much debt? ›
The Postal Service's poor financial condition
And its expenses are growing faster than its revenues, in part due to continuing declines in volume for First-Class Mail—its most profitable product. USPS has been able to continue operating in this situation by increasing its debt and unfunded liabilities.
Why is USPS unprofitable? ›
USPS has blamed inflationary pressures for throwing it off course, though its operating expenses have grown by less than 1% through the first five months of the fiscal year. In February, the Postal Service managed to cut its costs by more than 7%.
Is USPS in a crisis? ›
The Postal Service's poor financial condition
And its expenses are growing faster than its revenues, in part due to continuing declines in volume for First-Class Mail—its most profitable product. USPS has been able to continue operating in this situation by increasing its debt and unfunded liabilities.
Is Postal Service declining? ›
USPS is now delivering just 83% of First-Class mail on time during the current fiscal quarter, its worst rate in three years. That is down from 86% in the first quarter and 91% in both the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and the same period last year.
Is the post office making a profit? ›
As our new Chair notes, however, we have shown remarkable resilience across the year, recording a Trading Profit of £50 million for the financial year 2022/23.
Why is USPS slowing down? ›
There are two main reasons for the USPS delays. First, the postal service is strained by the increased shipping volume resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, recent changes implemented by USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have resulted in slowdowns.
