Trump’s Plan to Gut the Postal Service Will Leave Rural Families Stranded
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) warned that the Trump Administration’s push to dismantle the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a direct attack on rural New Mexico. In a letter, he expressed growing concern that President Trump’s proposal to fire the USPS Board of Governors and remove USPS’ status as an independent agency is widely seen as the first step toward privatization. Privatization of the USPS would result in slashed essential services and dramatically increased costs for families and small businesses across the state.
“If this plan moves forward, rural New Mexicans will be the first to suffer,” said Vasquez. “This is a blatant effort to gut the Postal Service, leaving seniors without their medications, small businesses without affordable shipping, and working families without reliable mail service. We cannot allow this administration to sell off a public service that millions depend on.”
The USPS operates a majority (57%) of its post offices in rural areas, covering nearly all (90%) of the country’s landmass. These locations are often the only reliable way for residents in small towns to receive mail, medications, and government checks. Privatization would almost certainly lead to post office closures, increased delivery costs, and slower service—hitting New Mexico’s rural communities the hardest.
“Families in Columbus, Truth or Consequences, and so many other towns rely on the Postal Service to deliver life-saving medications and critical mail. What happens when their post office closes because it’s not ‘profitable’ enough?” Vasquez continued. “The Trump administration is putting corporate profits ahead of the basic needs of working families.”
Privatizing the USPS would also devastate New Mexico’s small businesses and postal workers:
- More than 7.3 million jobs nationwide are tied to the Postal Service, and massive layoffs could follow if operations are slashed.
- The USPS processes 425 million pieces of mail daily—everything from Social Security checks to election ballots to prescription drugs.
- The mailing industry supports $1.58 trillion in economic activity—crippling it would devastate small businesses, farmers, and local economies reliant on affordable shipping.
“This isn’t just about mail—it’s about people’s livelihoods,” said Vasquez. “Slashing the Postal Service means hurting rural communities, killing jobs, crippling small businesses, and disrupting the flow of essential goods to families who have no other options.”
“On behalf of the New Mexico Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, I want to thank Gabe Vasquez for opposing postal service privatization,” said Debbie Encinias, President of the New Mexico Rural Letter Carriers Association. “Rural New Mexicans rely on the work that we do to receive Social Security checks, medications, and mail from loved ones. The Postal Service has done this critical work for 250 years, and we must continue to let this American institution serve the American people free from political interference or privatization.”
Vasquez is calling for immediate congressional action to block the administration’s efforts and protect rural communities from devastating mail service cuts. He is working with community leaders and postal worker unions to stop privatization efforts before they take hold.
You can read the full letter HERE.
