Quick Take: Postmaster General David Steiner is urging Congress to give the U.S. Postal Service greater flexibility to cut costs, including potential changes to six-day delivery, service standards, post office operations, and First-Class Mail pricing. In remarks at the May 8 USPS Board of Governors meeting, Steiner said the Postal Service’s current business model is “unsustainable” and warned that changes could mean “reduced levels of service and higher rates” for the American public.
Dive Deeper: For the printing and mailing community, this is a critical moment. USPS is not just another delivery provider; it is an essential national infrastructure that connects businesses, consumers, rural communities, nonprofits, publishers, and manufacturers. Changes to six-day delivery or the Universal Service Obligation could have serious downstream impacts on print, mail, catalogs, periodicals, billing statements, direct mail, and other essential communications.
Keep US Posted has urged Congress to preserve the Universal Service Obligation, including six-day mail and package delivery to every address, while also calling for reforms that keep postal rates affordable for consumers and small businesses. The coalition has also supported limiting rate increases to once per year and restoring stronger price discipline so USPS remains a reliable and cost-effective communications channel.
The Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service has similarly emphasized the importance of a financially stable and commercially viable Postal Service. C21 represents the broader business mailing and packaging supply chain and has noted that USPS must continue serving nearly 170 million addresses while balancing declining mail volumes, rising costs, and the fixed costs of universal service.
Why It Matters: A weaker postal network does not only affect USPS. It affects the entire print and mailing ecosystem, including printers, mailers, publishers, marketers, suppliers, and the millions of American jobs connected to mail. PRINTING United Alliance continues to support practical reforms that strengthen USPS finances without undermining reliable, affordable, universal service.
Reducing delivery days, closing access points, or accelerating rate increases could push more volume out of the mail, creating a cycle of higher costs and lower usage. That is especially concerning for rural communities, small businesses, and industries that depend on predictable delivery standards.
What’s Next: Congress will play a central role in determining the future of USPS. The Alliance will continue working with Keep US Posted, C21, and other postal stakeholders to advocate for reforms that protect universal service, maintain six-day delivery, improve USPS accountability, and ensure the Postal Service remains a dependable partner for the printing industry and the customers we serve.
Bottom Line: USPS needs reform, but reform should strengthen the postal network—not shrink access to it. For print, mail, and the American public, reliable and affordable universal service must remain the foundation of any path forward.
In this article, Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager, PRINTING United Alliance, reports on postal reform. More information can be found at Business Excellence-Legislation or reach out to Steph should you have additional questions specific to how these issues may affect your business: sbuka@printing.org.
To become a member of the Alliance and learn more about how our subject matter experts can assist your company with services and resources such as those mentioned in this article, please contact the Alliance membership team: 888-385-3588 / membership@printing.org.