USPS Needs Congress' Stamp Of Approval

Synopsis

The USPS — America's most popular federal agency — will run out of cash as early as October without congressional intervention, after losing $9 billion annually as first-class mail volume has dropped more than 50% since 2008. NPR correspondent Hanzi Lo Wang breaks down exactly what Congress must do to prevent a collapse: raise the $15 billion borrowing cap, reform the pension pre-funding system, and allow above-cap postage rate increases. The stakes extend well beyond junk mail — rural communities depend on USPS for medication delivery, bill payment, and voting, and Lo Wang flags a critical, underreported warning for anyone planning to vote by mail in the midterms: recent processing changes mean your ballot may not get a postmark unless you physically request one at a post office counter.

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