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Save the U.S. Postal Service
Trump is trying to gain control of the USPS by nominating two personal allies to the board of governors. His goal is to privatize or outright end the USPS. He is exploring price hikes, post office closures, and service reductions—such as reducing delivery days and making you drive out to pick up your mail.
Why does it matter?
The Trump administration is considering reducing the number of delivery days, ending door service (forcing people to go to the post office to pick up their mail), and closing post offices.
Widespread reductions in service are expected, including the total loss of mail in some less-profitable areas.
Wells Fargo predicts that shipping costs will rise by at least ~30%–140%, though the resulting near monopoly may drive prices up higher than this. There will be additional service fees in the less-profitable ZIP codes where 102 million Americans live.
The USPS is one of the most popular parts of the federal government, with a 72% approval rating, and is essential to many communities. The USPS exists to serve everyone, in every ZIP code, without regard to profit—which is what makes it fundamentally different from a for-profit company.
Trump wants to privatize mail delivery, turning it into a for-profit business rather a guaranteed public service. He claims that the current system is “unsustainable,” despite the USPS reporting a $144 million profit during the first quarter of 2025.
How can Trump do this?
The USPS board of governors controls the USPS. Trump wants to appoint two Republican allies, giving him complete control over the board:
- Anthony Lomangino (R): a Mar-a-Lago donor who donated nearly $9 million into a Trump super PAC, and paid legal bills for Trump allies who were under federal investigation.
- John LaValle (R): a long-time GOP party member with deep ties to MAGA politics.
The board is meant to be politically neutral: The board currently has two Republicans, two Democrats, and one Independent, with four vacant seats. The Senate typically considers nominations in bipartisan pairs—a Republican and a Democrat—to maintain this neutral balance. Trump is pushing two of his Republican allies, which would allow him to decide the outcome of every vote.