U.S. Postal Service relents, cancels plan to trim Saturday service
WASHINGTON--The US Postal Service has canceled a plan to end Saturday letter delivery this summer, conceding Wednesday that Congress had won a recent legal bout over the agency’s attempt to cut costs.
The USPS had announced in February that letter delivery would drop to five days starting Aug. 5. But Congress responded by adding a rider on a spending bill mandating Saturday delivery. The Postal Service’s Board of Governors reviewed Congress’ decision and determined Congress had the authority to make it, it said in a press release Wednesday.
“Although disappointed with this Congressional action, the Board will follow the law,” the USPS said.
The Postal Service had intended to cut $2 billion per year from its budget with the service reduction, which would have ended Saturday letter delivery but retained package delivery, on which it makes money. Last year, the agency lost nearly $16 billion even as it pleaded with Congress to pass reforms that would improve its fiscal health. Congress failed to pass a bill, spurring the agency’s decision to drop to five-day delivery.
Wednesday’s announcement followed a back-and-forth between the agency and Congress over whether the agency’s decision to reduce service was legal in the first place in light of long-standing legislation that mandates Saturday delivery. The legal question revolved around whether the USPS would meet the requirement by continuing package delivery but not letter delivery.
“The Board continues to support the transition to a new national delivery schedule,” USPS said in its announcement, which also called for Congress to reform the agency.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware), who is chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, agreed Wednesday that the USPS needs reform.
“Even though today’s decision by the Postal Service’s Board of Governors delays its controversial proposal, the urgent need for the administration and Congress to work together to save the Postal Service by making hard decisions and tackling controversial issues like Saturday delivery remains,” Carper said in a press release.
The National Assn. of Letter Carriers, which has urged the USPS to improve its finances by expanding on strengths rather than cutting services, applauded the agency’s announcement Wednesday.
Twitter: @wesventeicher
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