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2mo ago

Trump Administration Explores Merging USPS with Commerce Department

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick proposes USPS take over census duties to cut costs, while Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urges workers to ignore privatization rumors.

A United States Postal Service (USPS) collection box is pictured in Washington, U.S., December 18, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
A local postal worker driving an official government United States Postal Service (USPS) mail delivery vehicle van is waving out the window to an acquaintance as he delivers mail in this residential district neighborhood located in the town of Penfield, NY, on September 1, 2017.
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Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick speaks in the Oval Office of the White House after President Donald Trump signed an executive order, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Overview

  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested using USPS workers to conduct the U.S. census, citing potential savings of $40 billion every 10 years.
  • Lutnick also proposed USPS employees take on some Social Security-related tasks, such as delivering paperwork for births and deaths, to reduce costs.
  • President Donald Trump has expressed interest in merging USPS with the Commerce Department, though such a move would require Congressional approval.
  • Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who recently announced plans to step down, urged USPS employees to focus on their work and disregard speculation about privatization or structural changes.
  • USPS has faced significant financial challenges, reporting over $100 billion in losses since 2007, despite efforts to stabilize its finances through a 10-year restructuring plan.