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USPS customers are bracing for chaos as mail carriers are set to take on new duties under a plan pushed by the Trump administration.
In a controversial move, the Commerce Secretary suggested the US Postal Service could step in for temporary census workers.
The push comes amid financial struggles for the USPS, with a looming threat of big changes to its structure.
Mail carriers might soon be tasked with conducting the 2030 census, collecting personal data door-to-door.
But this change has sparked concerns about disruption, inefficiency, and even privacy risks.
The proposal to combine the USPS with the Commerce Department could be the start of a bigger transformation, reported NPR.
It comes as President Trump’s administration seeks to exert more control over independent agencies.
TRUMP’S PRESSURE
The White House wants the USPS to take on additional responsibilities to reduce costs, but experts warn of significant hurdles ahead.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said there’s possibility of his department gaining control over the USPS, which operates independently from the White House and is self-funded through stamp sales and service fees.
Lutnick revealed that President Trump gave him just 24 hours to come up with a solution to the USPS’s financial issues, NPR reported.
His suggestion to “save money” was to use mail carriers for the 2030 census instead of hiring temporary workers, a proposal that has raised concerns about its practicality and legality.
The system is already under pressure, with the USPS struggling financially for years.
A takeover by the Commerce Department would likely violate the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which ensures the agency’s independence from political influence.
“Trying to take it over, to pull it into the Commerce Department and get rid, in essence, of its independent structure would not be legal without the consent of Congress,” Rena Steinzor, a former law professor, told NPR.
LEGAL HURDLES
Meanwhile, the idea of combining the two agencies has left many wondering about the future of mail services.
The cost-saving promises associated with the census project are unconvincing, say experts, who argue that the figures used to support the plan are flawed.
The most recent 2020 census cost $13.7 billion. However, Lutnick claimed savings of up to $40 billion.
But past studies, including a 2011 Government Accountability Office report, have shown that using mail carriers for census interviews would be expensive and inefficient.
What to do when mail is missing
Step 1: Check the Current Status
Before you begin your search, if your package or mail has tracking, check USPS Tracking to see its current status.
Step 2: Complete a Help Request Form
Complete the USPS online help request form before you start a missing mail search. Please use a desktop computer to submit your form.
Your request will be forwarded to your local Post Office facility to help locate any missing items.
Step 3: Submit a Missing Mail Search Request
If after 7 business days from when you submitted your online help request form your mail or package hasn’t arrived, submit a Missing Mail search request with the following information:
- Sender mailing address
- Recipient mailing address
- Size and type of container or envelope you used
- Identifying information such as your USPS Tracking number(s), the mailing date from your mailing receipt, or Click-N-Ship label receipt
- Description of the contents such as what it is and the brand, model, color, or size, if applicable
- Pictures that could help us recognize your item
Step 4: Start your missing mail search
PUSH TO PRIVATIZE USPS
Mail carriers already have tight schedules. Rural areas, in particular, would pose a logistical nightmare, say union leaders.
“Rural carriers can’t take on this additional work,” Don Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association said.
Furthermore, carriers are expected to make deliveries during the day, but census work typically requires evening or weekend visits.
This creates further complications, especially in areas with widely spread-out homes.
Many union leaders suspect the administration may be using this push to justify a larger move to privatize the USPS.
Several postal unions have raised alarms about this move, believing it could lead to job losses and higher prices for customers.
They fear a “hostile takeover” of the service, with reduced mail services and a shift toward privatized models.
Experts worry that privatizing the USPS would undermine its universal service obligation.
The plan could also hike shipping costs for consumers.
Meanwhile, six House Republicans have joined forces to protect the USPS from privatization, signing a resolution to ensure its continued independence.
However, Trump has suggested that splitting the USPS into separate entities, including a private shipping service, could be worth considering.
“This would hurt customers in the long run,” Chris Wetherbee, a transportation analyst at Wells Fargo, told NPR.
Despite the concerns, postal unions are open to discussions about expanding the USPS’s role.
“We’re willing to discuss new ideas,” Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union said.
“But don’t use it as an excuse to privatize.”
Meanwhile, the future of mail delivery, especially in rural areas, hangs in the balance.
USPS didn’t immediately respond to the request for a comment by The U.S. Sun.
