The article details the financial crisis facing the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its potential consequences. It highlights the accelerated decline in mail volume and revenue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the pre-existing financial burdens imposed by the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. This act mandated the USPS to pre-fund retiree health benefits decades in advance, a requirement not placed on other government agencies or private companies.
The article argues that the USPS is a vital public service, essential for communication, commerce, and delivering critical services, especially to rural and underserved communities. The collapse of the USPS would disproportionately affect these populations and small businesses reliant on affordable shipping.
Furthermore, the article suggests that the financial crisis is being deliberately engineered to justify privatization. It points to the Trump administration’s open advocacy for privatization and its appointment of Louis DeJoy, a major Republican donor with ties to private logistics companies, as Postmaster General. DeJoy’s policies, including cost-cutting measures and operational changes, have been criticized for further slowing down mail delivery and undermining public trust in the USPS. The article implies that these measures are intended to weaken the postal service and make it more attractive for private acquisition.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/05/fsxa-m05.html