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AMERICANS have been warned they could be forced into driving long distances to collect their mail if the US Postal Service is privatized.
The future of the USPS in its current form remains uncertain after President Trump branded it a “tremendous loser.”
Speculation that the USPS could be privatized intensified after the company reported a net loss of $9.5 billion in November 2024 – up from $6.3 billion the previous year.
“We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money, and we’re thinking about doing that, and will be a form of a merger, but it’ll remain the Postal Service, and I think it’ll operate a lot better than it has been over the years,” he told reporters on Friday.
The USPS is set to undergo leadership change as Louis DeJoy, the Postmaster General, announced his desire to step down.
DeJoy had been at the helm of the agency for five years.
If the USPS is to be privatized, it would lose its independence.
The USPS has been independent since 1970, but Trump said his new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will be “looking” at the agency.
Given the uncertainty, labor unions fear what the implications could be if the agency is privatized.
Erick Poston, of the National Association of Letter Carriers, expressed concern about the impact privatization would have on rural communities.
“They may not get any service,” he told the Fox affiliate WJW-TV.
Poston warned that some customers may have to drive an hour to collect parcels.
Lawmakers have warned Trump not to privatize the service.
Marcy Kaptur, who represents Ohio’s 9th congressional district, warned that elderly Americans rely on the service.
“We cannot cut off this critical lifeline for people,” she posted on X.
“The United States Postal Service is just that — a public service for the American people.
“No matter where you live, neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor hail, they will deliver.”
Lawmakers in Congress introduced resolutions to ensure the USPS remains a public service.
Avoiding mail theft
To prevent mail theft, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) recommends residents take several precautions.
- First, avoid letting mail sit in your mailbox—inspect it daily and remove it promptly.
- For package deliveries, track shipments on the USPS website and sign up for email or text alerts to stay informed.
- If you’re not home when your mail is scheduled to arrive, consider asking a trusted neighbor to pick it up for you.
- For longer absences, you can have your mail held at the Post Office by requesting this service online.
- If valuable mail such as checks doesn’t arrive, immediately reach out to the issuing agency.
- It’s also crucial to update your address with the Post Office and any businesses you regularly correspond with to avoid potential issues.
- Lastly, for outgoing mail, it’s safer to hand it directly to your letter carrier or deposit it inside your local Post Office for added security.
Source: U.S. Postal Inspector
One resolution, introduced by Democratic lawmaker Stephen Lynch, and Republican congressman Nick LaLota has been put forward.
This has been backed by Brian L. Renfoe, the president of the NALC union.
“Any effort to privatize USPS directly attacks universal service, a safe and reliable Postal Service, and the work our members do every day,” he said.
Trump called for fundamental changes to the USPS during his first term.
But, at the time, privatization wasn’t a popular idea among Democrats and Republicans, so it was on the backburner.
In 2018, he created a task force that he hoped would go someway in improving its financial fortunes.
Supporters believed the USPS would be able to adapt to changing customer trends quicker if it was privatized, according to the Government Executive.
They also claimed the organization would be free from political interference.
And, the murmurs about privatization come as customers continue to slam poor services.
Business owners have claimed they’ve received furious calls from customers demanding updates on their packages.
Tiffany Singer, a small business owner, told the NBC affiliate WTHR-TV she had never received so many complaints.
Residents have blasted USPS for not receiving medication on-time and not receiving packages despite paying for fast-track deliveries.
