Both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have expressed interest in privatizing the US Postal Service, an idea that has long been popular in conservative circles. Such a move, however, could have major downsides.
Experts told Business Insider that privatizing the USPS, an independent agency older than the United States itself, could drive up prices for everyone — and especially harm businesses and nonprofits that depend on the mail, and rural communities that don’t have other shipping options.
“Nobody at FedEx or UPS is looking after the public interest,” James O’Rourke, who teaches management and organization at the University of Notre Dame and studies the USPS, told Business Insider. “They’re looking after the shareholders.”
In December, Trump said he was “looking into” privatizing the agency. And in late February, he suggested placing the USPS under control of the Commerce Department.
