Trump Considers Merging USPS into Commerce Department
On Friday, President Donald Trump expressed his intention to explore the possibility of taking control of the United States Postal Service (USPS) and merging it into the Department of Commerce. This move, according to Trump, aims to enhance the performance and financial stability of the mail agency.
"We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money," Trump remarked to reporters in the Oval Office. "And we’re thinking about doing that."
This revelation, made in response to a reporter’s query, followed a Washington Post report claiming Trump planned to terminate the USPS’s nine-member board of governors and place the agency under the Commerce Department’s jurisdiction.
"It’ll be a form of a merger, but it’ll remain the Postal Service," Trump explained. "And I think it’ll operate a lot better than it has been over the years. It’s been just a tremendous loser for this country."
The Post reported that Trump intended to issue an executive order dismissing members of the board of governors, but the White House denied such plans.
Members of the Postal Service’s board of governors are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. According to the Post, the board convened an emergency meeting Thursday night and retained outside legal counsel, authorizing the filing of a lawsuit against the Trump administration if it proceeded with the removal of board members or the elimination of the agency’s independent status.
Amber McReynolds, the board chair who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, did not respond to a message from USA TODAY.
The potential upheaval at the Postal Service coincides with the efforts of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, headed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, to streamline federal agencies and reduce the workforce.
Earlier in the week, Louis DeJoy, the Trump-appointed Postmaster General, announced his intention to step down and requested that the Postal Service begin the search for his successor. DeJoy, a retired logistics executive and Republican fundraiser, has served as postmaster general since 2020.
Trump has consistently criticized the Postal Service, which employs over 530,000 full-time employees and serves over 163 million addresses nationwide. Since 2007, the Postal Service has reported a net loss of $100 billion.
In December, prior to his inauguration, Trump alluded to the possibility of privatizing the Postal Service.
"There is a lot of talk about the Postal Service being taken private," Trump said at the time. "It’s a lot different today, between Amazon and UPS and FedEx and all the things that you didn’t have. But there is talk about that. It’s an idea that a lot of people have liked for a long time."
In 2021, DeJoy unveiled a 10-year restructuring plan for the Postal Service, aiming to eliminate $160 billion in projected losses over the coming decade. The agency now estimates $80 billion in losses over the period and anticipates further cuts to address the deficit.
"Tremendous amounts of money are being lost," Trump emphasized on Friday. "And we think we can do something that will be very good."
Concerns and Potential Impact
The proposed merger of the USPS into the Commerce Department has raised concerns among various stakeholders.
Employee unions, such as the American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers, have expressed strong opposition to the move. They argue that it would undermine the USPS’s independence and weaken its ability to provide essential services to the public.
Additionally, there are concerns that the merger could lead to job losses and a reduction in services, particularly in rural areas where the USPS plays a vital role. The USPS is the only entity legally required to deliver mail to every address in the United States, regardless of location or cost.
Experts also question the potential effectiveness of the merger in addressing the USPS’s financial challenges. They argue that the underlying issues, such as declining mail volume and rising costs, cannot be resolved solely through structural changes.
Next Steps
The future of the USPS remains uncertain as the Trump administration considers its options. The president has not provided a timeline for any potential actions, but the possibility of an executive order remains on the table.
The Postal Service’s board of governors has authorized legal action if necessary, and the agency could face legal challenges if the administration attempts to remove board members or alter its independent status.
The outcome of this situation will have significant implications for the Postal Service, its employees, and the American public. It is imperative for all involved parties to carefully consider the potential consequences before making any irreversible decisions.
