USPS changes forever – launches massive reform to save $36 million that will affect everyone in the US

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has taken a decisive and unprecedented step that aims to revolutionize the way mail is distributed in the country, and if everything is being modernized, why not the USPS? With this change, they aim to speed up deliveries and modernize all their networks, in addition to cutting costs. Everything seems to be running smoothly, right? Well, not everyone is convinced about the change. Will the letters arrive on time from now on? We’ll tell you all the changes below.

USPS modernizes

That’s right, change has come for USPS and it’s already here. This past April 2, USPS launched a plan they’ve titled “Delivering for America,” and this plan is not one with immediate impact, but rather they intend for it to be a progressive change through which, within 10 years (yes, you read that right, 10 years), they will have managed to save up to $36 billion!!! But that’s not their main promise. The main promise of this change is to improve and speed up the service they offer. But of course, what about rural areas? Why does no one remember rural areas and the most vulnerable communities?

What does “Delivering for America” involve?

Perhaps this is the part we like the least about the plan proposed by the postal service. It includes reducing working hours, closing unused facilities, and redistributing mail networks to optimize them. But that’s where our main fear comes in: will letters and notifications arrive on time? USPS has confirmed it, that these initiatives they’ve proposed will not delay any mail, they just aim to provide better tracking and make the process much more transparent.

So why are residents worried?

Because there are already places, like Chicopee and Massachusetts, where they’ve started to notice the impact of these changes, and in many other places, there is fear that this centralization being proposed will cause areas far from urban centres to have problems receiving their mail.

The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has been blunt in its reports, showing that 49.5% of paired ZIP codes will see a decline in service quality for First-Class mail, due to USPS still lacking an efficient tracking system at the five-digit ZIP code level.

USPS’s defence

The institution has tried to defend itself by assuring that mail volume originates less than 50 miles from regional centres, so there’s no reason to worry about delivery times. They invite users to use the digital tools available to track their orders. But of course, this can be very relative, especially now that users are already starting to notice a decline in service. “I’m not happy with how things are right now, but of course, change is inevitable. It’s curious how the most humble always bear the greatest sacrifice,” said a resident from one of the affected areas.

When does the next phase of the plan go into effect?

The next phase of the reform will expand to other regions on July 1, so it’s best to start mentally preparing now.

More efficiency or more inequality?

That’s the key question that comes to mind when we learned about this news. Are they really modernizing the postal system without harming its main mission, which is to provide a public and equitable service for all citizens? While everything is now dominated by the digital world, physical mail continues to be very important, especially for those who depend on it to receive official documents, pension payments, or even medications. So, we’ll have to see how this experiment evolves and whether the service change ends up affecting the most vulnerable populations.

USPS reform calendar