Our Postal Service, Caught Between Bankruptcy and a Power Grab

The U.S. Constitution explicitly empowers Congress — NOT the executive branch — to establish Post Offices and Post Roads. Today, this public service faces severe threats from executive interference in election mail, an outdated financing structure, and renewed calls for privatization. Here is where things stand: - FINANCIAL INSTABILITY: USPS lost $9 billion in fiscal year 2025 and hit its statutory $15 billion Treasury borrowing limit — a cap unchanged since 1991 despite rising costs. To stay solvent, USPS recently suspended its $200 million biweekly retirement contributions, with projections warning of insolvency by early 2027. - ELECTION MAIL INTERFERENCE: An executive order attempted to restrict mail-in ballot delivery by imposing federal controls on state election systems—a move federal courts have already blocked as an unconstitutional usurpation of state and congressional authority. - FACILITY CONSOLIDATIONS AND SERVICE DELAYS: Closing and consolidating local sorting facilities directly degrades mail delivery speeds in rural and underserved areas. Because of structural governance loopholes, postal leadership has pushed these changes through without mandatory public transparency or independent oversight. - THREATS OF PRIVATIZATION: Public statements floating privatization or selling off profitable routes threaten the long-term stability of a vital public service. Agency independence must not depend on administrative discretion. These challenges are interconnected: a starved postal budget and unconstitutional interference threaten the long-term survival of a vital civic institution. I urge you to take five concrete actions: 1. DEMAND FULL TRANSPARENCY ON BALLOT DELIVERY: Require Postmaster General Steiner to provide Congress a full accounting of ballot delivery protocols and ensure strict adherence to federal court injunctions. 2. PASS STRUCTURAL LEGISLATIVE SAFEGUARDS: Enact the Election Mail Protection Act and Postal Service Board of Governors Reform Act to lock in First-Class delivery standards for all ballots and limit unilateral executive interference. 3. UPDATE THE STATUTORY DEBT LIMIT: Lift the 1991 $15 billion Treasury borrowing cap to reflect modern operating realities so USPS can meet its retirement obligations. 4. COSPONSOR AND PASS H.R. 2103 / S. 3657: Support the Protect Postal Performance Act to halt harmful facility consolidation in rural communities and mandate public transparency. 5. DEFEND USPS AS A PUBLIC SERVICE: Publicly oppose any administrative or legislative attempts to privatize the Postal Service, sell off profitable routes, or degrade First-Class delivery standards. The Constitution places responsibility for the Postal Service directly in Congress's hands. I urge you to fulfill this duty and protect USPS.