USPS proposes cost-cutting plan that could slow mail delivery in rural areas

Aug 23, 2024

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

The United States Postal Service is announcing new plans to cut costs and improve its finances. However, the plan does mean slower mail delivery for some Americans starting in 2025.

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The proposal aims to overhaul the delivery logistics of the service, a move that could delay mail delivery in certain areas. The areas most affected by the move are rural locales.

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This comes three years after the agency rolled out a 10-year plan looking to reverse billions in losses. The original plan slowed delivery standards to five days instead of the previous three. Now, thanks to the newly proposed changed, the service expects to save $3 billion a year.

However, depending on location and distance, some customers could see an additional 12-24 hours added to their delivery time.

The USPS has also raised the price of forever stamps. Critics argue that customers are paying more for slower services. The agency is making some assurances. All mail will be delivered within a two- to five-day window, and the agency further emphasized that 75% of first-class mail won’t be impacted.

Officials also stress that the changes won’t affect election mail or holiday shipments, as the changes won’t take place until next year. Medications will continue to be delivered at their current speed.

The details of the plan will be discussed with stakeholders at a Sept. 5 meeting before the proposal is submitted.

Jack Aylmer

THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE IS ANNOUNCING NEW PLANS TO CUT COSTS AND IMPROVE ITS FINANCIAL STATE, THOUGH IT COULD MEAN SLOWER MAIL DELIVERY FOR SOME AMERICANS STARTING IN 2025.

THE PROPOSAL AIMS TO OVERHAUL THE DELIVERY LOGISTICS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE., A MOVE THAT COULD DELAY MAIL DELIVERY IN CERTAIN AREAS, ESPECIALLY RURAL COMMUNITIES. THIS COMES ABOUT THREE YEARS AFTER THE AGENCY ROLLED OUT A 10-YEAR PLAN LOOKING TO REVERSE BILLIONS IN LOSSES.

THE ORIGINAL PLANSLOWED DELIVERY STANDARDS TO FIVE DAYS INSTEAD OF THE PREVIOUS THREE. NOW, WITH THESE PROPOSED CHANGES, THE USPS EXPECTS TO SAVE 3-BILLION-DOLLARS A YEAR. HOWEVER, DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND DISTANCE, SOME CUSTOMERS MAY SEE AN ADDITIONAL TWELVE TO TWENTY-FOUR HOURS ADDED TO THEIR MAIL DELIVERY TIME.

THE USPS HAS ALSO RAISED THE PRICE OF FOREVER STAMPS. CRITICS ARGUE THAT CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING MORE FOR SLOWER SERVICES.

THE AGENCY IS MAKING ASSURANCES. ALL MAIL WILL STILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN A TWO-TO-FIVE-DAY WINDOW.

EMPHASIZING 75-PERCENT OF FIRST-CLASS MAIL WON’T BE IMPACTED.

OFFICIALS SAY THE CHANGES WON’T AFFECT ELECTION MAIL OR HOLIDAY SHIPMENTS BECAUSE THE PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

MEDICATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE DELIVERED AT THEIR CURRENT SPEED OR EVEN FASTER.

THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH STAKEHOLDERS AT A SEPTEMBER FIFTH MEETING BEFORE THE PROPOSAL IS SUBMITTED.

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