The never ending post office crisis.

USPS needs reforms from Congress, like higher stamp prices and the ability to borrow more money, the postmaster general told lawmakers.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...ohEVcAGwPPnTzjEjA%3D

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) might run out of funds by October or November of this year, the head of the agency told Congress on Tuesday.

In a House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations hearing, U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner said the USPS needed reforms from Congress, otherwise the agency could be out of money if it continues making required retirement and other payments to the government.

“We’re in a crisis,” Steiner said.

Among the reforms the postmaster general addressed, he said the USPS needs higher prices on stamps and the ability to borrow more money. He added that if the postal service defaults on some payments, like it’s done in recent years, it will still be out of money in less than a year.

“If we stretch those out, we’re looking at more like February,” Steiner told lawmakers.

He also outlined steps the agency could take to cut costs.

Those steps included ending deliveries six days a week, closing some post offices, and raising the price of first-class mail stamps to close to $1. Currently, that price is $0.78.

“When you have less than 12 months of ​cash available, you have to look at everything,” Steiner said.

By reducing deliveries to only five days out of the week, USPS could save about $3 billion a year, the postmaster general said Tuesday. Closing small offices in rural areas would save $840 million, he added, but these steps “may not be palatable to Congress or the American ​public.”

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), who served as chairman for the hearing, told Steiner he will work with the agency to address concerns. However, Sessions said he does not support raising the prices on stamps.

“We’re going to have to make ‌tough decisions,” Sessions said.

The top Democrat on the subcommittee, Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), agreed that reforms were needed, adding that Congress cannot “do nothing ​and watch the Titanic sink.”

“We cannot let the U.S. Postal Service die,” Mfume said in the hearing.

Steiner previously told The Associated Press earlier this month that USPS will run out of funds without congressional action. He, again, stressed the importance of raising first-class stamp prices, claiming it could solve the fiscal issues facing the agency.
But the Postal Regulatory Commission wouldn’t allow the adjustment, Steiner said.

“We have to have a conversation with the American public,” the postmaster general said. “If you want us to deliver everywhere, every day, we’ll do it. That’s not a problem. But who is going to pay for it?”

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, the agency reported its net loss widened by nearly $1.4 billion compared to the same quarter last year.
“This change to net loss is attributed to an increase in workers’ compensation expense of $634 million, operating revenue decrease of $264 million, an increase in retiree health benefits expense of $175 million, higher other operating expenses of $169 million, and higher transportation expenses of $43 million,” the USPS said in a Feb. 5 statement.
The Postal Service moves 55,000 loads a day and covers nearly 2 billion miles each year, delivering mail to more than 170 million addresses six or seven days a week.
Since 2007, the agency has reported $118 billion in net losses. The agency’s most profitable product, first-class mail, has recently dropped to its lowest volume since the late 1960s.

quote:

“We cannot let the U.S. Postal Service die,” Mfume said in the hearing.

I'd say around 90% of mail delivered to the 12GA residence is junk that is immediately tossed into the recycling bin.

Let it die.

I do not care

I can get by just fine with Amazon, UPS and Fedex

Fuck USPS. Eighteen days for a part from California to Florida.

^^^ I had a similar screw up in January.

They have sought out to employ morons since the 1960's. This is the result.

One benefit is I now know neighbors from blocks miles away I never would have before because we end up bringing over each other's mail weekly since USPS can't figure out how to deliver to the correct address.

Part of the problem is Congress won't let them cut service. I don't need mail 6 days a week. Make it 2. Shit, 1 would probably be fine.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Part of the problem is Congress won't let them cut service. I don't need mail 6 days a week. Make it 2. Shit, 1 would probably be fine.

Oddly enough, Congress doesn't seem to be serving us well either!

Seriously, though, I'm with you: cut residential delivery to two, maybe three days a week. There's got to be huge savings in that, looking only at vehicle fuel/maintenance/repair costs.

The sales of postage stamps should be providing a huge cash-flow boost. Customers shell out cash, and while the stamps sit around in drawers waiting for use, that is in USPS's accounts. That's the kind of thing that Warren Buffett loved.

quote:

he said the USPS needs higher prices

How about instead they:

- eliminate bulk mail rates (make junk mailers pay the same as the rest of us) or, better yet, charge a premium for junk bulk mailing instead of giving them discounts.

- eliminate discount rate for 'non-profit' organizations.

- stop issuing 'forever' stamps, so when they do get a rate increase, the mail starts actually soaking up postage at those new rates.

- have GAO issue a report comparing USPS pay and benefits with those of for-profit companies and then take a hard look at compensation policies.

^^^ I nominate joel as the new head of the USPS

quote:

Originally posted by 12GA:

I'd say around 90% of mail delivered to the 12GA residence is junk that is immediately tossed into the recycling bin.

Raise the cost for sending junk mail.

Shut it down. The only thing I used them for is shipping handguns since they are usually the cheapest. I do very little shipping now so it will not matter to me.

Now someone will post how it cannot shut down blah, blah, blah…..

I have the delivery notification that shows the mail you are due to receive that day.
But:
Items depicted rarely show on the day they are supposed to be delivered.
Sometimes dont show up at all.
Sometimes it shows numerous items "out for delivery" and I receive nothing at all.
My carrier (subcontractor) may show up 4 of the 6 day delivery schedule.
Lots of Yoopers now claim that Amazon packages are delivered but not regular mail.
So the Postmaster General claims he is broke? He has enough money to send out some kind of USPS propaganda junk mail I am slated to get today. If it actually does arrive!

Wanna know something really bad? Try calling the USPS 800 number to talk to a representative about logistics of remotely opening a PO Box as you prep to move cross country and want a forwarding address in the interim.

There was no way to actually speak to someone.

Aren't they spending a shitload of money converting to electric vehicles?
That's probably wasting a lot of money, knowing how efficiently the USPS works.

does this mean that I won't be getting junk mail?

if so, I'm all in

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
does this mean that I won't be getting junk mail?

if so, I'm all in

You and me both! 99% of the shit in my mailbox is junk. It is tiresome.

If a ‘company’ that has the advantage of operating one of the largest business monopolies in the country cannot by now, figure out a way to operate in a fiscally responsible manner without throwing more and more and more money at the ‘problem’, to no end, then serious consideration needs to be given to replacing them with an alternative business solution.

Always crying poor

Literally 99% of the mail I get is crap like credit card offers and other junk

Maybe they should go away.

We have rural mail delivery and it’s all done by contract. The PO goes through contract carriers like popcorn, and maybe 1 in 5 gives a shit. We get our neighbors mail all the time, and they get ours. The Postmaster is well aware of the problem, but apparently, there’s nothing she can do about it.