What A Day USPS Needs Congress' Stamp Of Approval
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Apr 1, 2026 Hansi Lo Wang, an NPR reporter who covers the Postal Service and elections, explains why USPS is bleeding money and outlines congressional fixes. Matt Berg, Crooked Media’s Washington correspondent, breaks down related political fallout and court news. They discuss declining mail volume, funding options like borrowing limits and postage changes, rural delivery risks, and how all this could affect mail-in voting.
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Why The Postal Service Is Running On Its Own Money
- The USPS is a self-funded federal agency reliant on stamps, shipping fees, and service charges rather than regular taxpayer appropriations.
- Hansi Lo Wang explains a 1970 law made USPS independent after prior fiscal crises, assuming continued postal demand that declined sharply.
USPS Asked For More Borrowing And Rate Flexibility
- USPS told Congress it may exhaust cash within months and asked for options like higher postage limits and bigger borrowing authority.
- David Steiner proposed raising the $15 billion statutory borrowing cap and loosening rate limits to bridge a multibillion-dollar shortfall.
Expect Temporary Package Price Hikes
- USPS proposed an 8% temporary increase on many package and priority mail rates, not the first-class stamp price.
- Hansi Lo Wang notes the hike would run April through mid-January 2027 to cover rising transportation costs.