WASHINGTON, DC — In his remarks to the Board of Governors in May, U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner suggested that the government pay to support universal mail service.
“If we want to continue the Postal Service as a viable entity, policy makers have two options,” the PMG said. “First would be to remove the mandates that ensure the Postal Service loses money: For example, days and levels of service, the ability to close unprofitable offices, and the underpricing of First-Class Mail.”
But, the PMG said that would mean the American public would see reduced levels of service and higher rates.
“The second option is to return to the original intent of Congress when they formed the Postal Service in 1971,” the PMG said. “In 1971, Congress foresaw that the cost of universal service would likely be too much for the Postal Service to cover on its own. That is why they authorized a public service reimbursement to partially offset the costs related to our costly mandates.
The PMG said the Post “will propose that the public service reimbursement be updated to reflect the realities of 2026 and not 1971. In addition, we will propose that we be provided with additional liquidity through changes to our borrowing authority.”
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