1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The USPS has served as an invaluable civic institution since its founding by Benjamin Franklin in 1775. The Trump administration's plans to dissolve the governing postal board and absorb the agency into the Commerce Department represent an unacceptable breach of its longstanding independence. Established as a nonpolitical body under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the USPS has dutifully upheld its mandate to provide fair and impartial mail service for all Americans. Undermining its autonomy by executive overreach would likely violate federal law and open the door to geographic favoritism that contravenes over two centuries of equal access. This partisan power grab threatens to corrupt a cherished democratic legacy that facilitates open communication and civic engagement nationwide. Decisive action must be taken to uphold the USPS's autonomous status and prevent this historic civic asset from falling under the sway of any single administration or political ideology.