WASHINGTON—6/25/25 – The Subcommittee on Government Operations yesterday held a hearing titled “The Route Forward for the U.S. Postal Service: A View from Stakeholders.” The American people rely on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) for critical services and members emphasized that former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy deserves credit for implementing a long-term strategy to improve USPS operations. However, members agreed with key stakeholders testifying before the Subcommittee that many Americans across the country continue to endure poor service, and USPS is still losing too much money annually. Republicans and Democrats concluded that incoming USPS leadership must prioritize achieving financial self-sufficiency for Postal Service operations while simultaneously improving overall service for Americans.
Key Takeaways:
For nearly 250 years, the United States Postal Service has been a vital institution, providing essential mail and services that American businesses and households depend on.
Ms. Elena Patel, Assistant Professor, Marriner Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis at the University of Utah, testified: “The Postal Service has been a cornerstone of public service since the earliest days of our nation. Its core mission is to provide reliable, affordable, and universal service, ensuring that every American can participate in the essential networks of communication that bind our nation together.”
Key stakeholders emphasized that the USPS’s financial condition remains poor and urged Congress to pursue cost-effective strategies, including public-private partnerships, to achieve financial self-sufficiency and enhance USPS service quality.
Mr. Thomas A. Schatz, President, Citizens Against Government Waste, testified: “The Government Accountability Office has had the USPS on its High-Risk List since 2009 and has called its business model “unsustainable.”7 It has lost money in every quarter since 2009, is running out of cash, and has failed to deliver adequate service across the country.”
Mr. Paul Steidler, Senior Fellow, Lexington Institute, testified: “USPS will likely run out of cash sometime before the 2028 Presidential election. USPS assured Congress, through its 2021 Delivering for America strategic plan, that if it passed the Postal Service Reform Act and other modest steps were taken, it would be breakeven in Fiscal Year 2023 and breakeven for the 10-year fiscal period 2021-30. That has never come close to happening… Former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy had a well-intentioned, bold, and expensive plan that envisioned USPS building out extensive infrastructure. It has not worked and should be halted and abandoned.”
Mr. Jim Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer, Package Shippers Association, testified: “To truly revitalize the Postal Service and ensure its long-term viability, we must acknowledge thelimitations of a purely governmental approach. A critical component of any new strategy must include embracing of strategic public-private partnerships, particularly in areas where the private sector excels.”
The House Oversight Committee will continue to work in a bipartisan manner with USPS leadership and outside stakeholders to ensure USPS is successful and operates like a 21st century business that provides reliable service.
Mr. Michael Plunkett, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association for Postal Commerce, testified: “The Postal Service and mail can and should have a long and prosperous future. For that to happen, Congress, the Executive Branch and postal stakeholders need to work together. I congratulate the House Oversight Committee for recognizing the need to begin an essential dialogue and commit the resources of our associations and its members to support the Committee’s efforts to improve our nation’s postal system.”
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