Postal service advocates push for halting Postmaster General's planned increase in postage rates

The US Postal Service (USPS) is once again under scrutiny, as a postal advocacy group, Keep US Posted, has called for a pause in the planned July 13 increase in stamp prices. The move comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Delivering for America plan, which was implemented by former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

DeJoy, who resigned halfway through the implementation of his 10-year plan, had aimed to promote the financial sustainability of USPS by slowing some delivery and increasing the price of certain products. However, the USPS lost $9.5 billion in fiscal 2024, despite the changes implemented under his leadership.

The stamp price increase, which will raise the price of stamps from 73 cents to 78 cents, is scheduled to take effect on July 13. The increase is a concern for Keep US Posted, as it will occur before the new Postmaster General begins his tenure. The group has asked David Steiner, Waste Management CEO and FedEx board member, who is expected to take the helm of USPS after the stamp price increase, to review and rescind Delivering for America.

Keep US Posted, which represents consumers, nonprofits, newspapers, and other entities, has also written a letter to the USPS endorsing the USPS SERVES US Act (H.R. 3004). The Act, proposed by Rep. Sam Graves, aims to limit rate changes for market-dominant products to no more than once per year.

At a House Government Operations subcommittee hearing on June 24, several representatives advocated for a pause in the implementation of Delivering for America. The letter submitted by Keep US Posted at the hearing stated that the increase would be a burden on businesses and consumers, particularly during these challenging economic times.

The USPS SERVES US Act also includes reforms intended to restrict stamp price increases. Despite the calls for a pause and the criticisms from both congressional Republicans and Democrats, it remains unclear whether the July 13 stamp price increase will be delayed. As of July 2023, there is no publicly available information indicating a specific person who has taken over the position of Postmaster General of the US Postal Service.

In the meantime, the USPS continues to face criticism and calls for reform. The future of the service remains uncertain, as it navigates through these challenging times.