Summary

Donald Trump plans to take control of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) by firing its governing board and placing it under the Commerce Department, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Experts warn the move likely violates federal law, as USPS was established as an independent entity under the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act.

The Postal Board, in an emergency meeting, has hired legal counsel and gave instructions to sue the White House if the president removed board members or altered the agency’s independent status.

Trump has long criticized the USPS and has floated privatization, sparking backlash over concerns of political interference and mail disruptions.

  • pjwestin@lemmy.world
    353·
    1 day ago

    Reminder that the Post Office is only losing money because of a 2006 law that forces them to fund their retirement plan for 75 years in advance, which is an insane burden that no nother agency or private corporation undertakes. Also, even if it does lose money, it doesn’t matter because the USPS isn’t a business. It’s a government service provided for the public good.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.worldEnglish
      16·
      1 day ago

      Also, even if it does lose money, it doesn’t matter because the USPS isn’t a business. It’s a government service provided for the public good.

      All good points, but this is the most important one. We need to stop accepting the bullshit framing of the extremist radical right wing that sees everything as a business.

      • pjwestin@lemmy.world
        10·
        1 day ago

        That’s true, and I did forget about that, but that also doesn’t undo the 16 years of cutbacks they had to make to try to meet that target. It’s also unclear to what happens to the money ($56 out of $72 billion, I think) they had already saved in retirement, but if I member right, they got about $50 billion in debt relief, so I guess that about balances out.