Trump wants to privatize the United States Postal Service. Private delivery companies will devastate rural deliveries and cause pricing shocks to everyone. Even private companies depend on the USPS.
Stop Trump’s US Postal Service Privatization
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Summary
The speaker warns that Donald Trump is pushing to privatize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) by moving it under the Commerce Department, which would devastate rural America and working-class Americans. The USPS is falsely portrayed as mismanaged when, in reality, it was crippled by a Republican-led mandate forcing it to pre-fund retiree benefits decades in advance. Unlike private carriers, the USPS delivers to every address at the same price and is essential for rural mail, medicine, and commerce. Privatization would mean higher costs, job losses, and unreliable service for those who need it most.
Key Points:
- Manufactured Crisis: The USPS is self-sustaining but was artificially burdened by a 2006 Republican law requiring it to pre-fund pensions decades in advance.
- Essential for Rural America: Private carriers rely on the USPS for “last-mile” delivery to rural areas, which they wouldn’t be able to serve profitably.
- Privatization Means Higher Costs: A first-class letter costs under $1 with USPS, while private companies charge five times as much.
- Threat to Jobs and Democracy: USPS employs many veterans and union workers and is crucial for mail-in voting—privatization would endanger both.
- Corporate Greed Over Public Good: Trump and his allies seek to dismantle the USPS to benefit wealthy private carriers, leaving Americans with worse service and higher prices.
The USPS is one of America’s most significant public institutions, ensuring every citizen has equal access to essential services regardless of wealth or location. Trump’s push to privatize it is yet another example of corporate greed taking priority over working-class and rural Americans, who rely on this service for jobs, medicine, and mail. The fight to protect the Postal Service is to preserve democracy, fair wages, and a government that works for the people—not just for profit.
Premium Content (Complimentary)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has long been a vital institution, serving every American household regardless of location, wealth, or political affiliation. Yet, former President Donald Trump and his allies are working to dismantle and privatize this essential service, threatening the very communities that depend on it the most. The truth about the USPS’ financial health and its role in American society has been deliberately distorted to justify its destruction and sale to corporate interests. If this privatization effort succeeds, millions of Americans—particularly those in rural areas—will face higher costs, worse service, and the loss of good-paying jobs.
The Myth of USPS Mismanagement
For decades, conservatives have falsely claimed that the USPS is inefficient, mismanaged, and a drain on taxpayer resources. This is not true. Unlike private companies such as FedEx or UPS, the Postal Service is a self-sustaining entity that does not receive taxpayer funding. It generates revenue through the sale of postage, products, and services. However, in 2006, a Republican-led Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which forced the USPS to pre-fund retiree health benefits 75 years in advance—an unprecedented financial burden that no private company or government agency faces.
This requirement created an artificial crisis. On paper, the USPS appeared to be running a deficit, but this was a manufactured shortfall designed to weaken the service and open the door for privatization. Without this mandate, the Postal Service would be financially stable, and arbitrary restrictions would not strangle its ability to adjust prices and innovate. The effort to brand the USPS as a failing institution is part of a long-term conservative strategy to discredit public services and shift them into corporate hands for profit.
The Lifeline for Rural America
Ironically, many of Trump’s strongest supporters—rural Americans—are the ones who would be most devastated by USPS privatization. Unlike private carriers, which operate based on profit incentives, the USPS is legally obligated to serve every address in the United States. It does so at the same cost. Whether you live in a bustling city or a remote village in Alaska, your postage rate remains the same. No private company can or will match this universal service commitment.
Companies like UPS, FedEx, and DHL already rely on the USPS to handle what is known as the “last mile”—the final leg of delivery to hard-to-reach rural areas. This is because it is not profitable for private companies to deliver to these areas. If the USPS is privatized, rural communities will likely face dramatically increased costs or significantly reduced service, possibly receiving mail only once or twice weekly. The corporations taking over postal delivery would prioritize wealthier urban and suburban customers while neglecting rural areas, effectively abandoning millions of Americans.
Higher Costs, Worse Service, and Corporate Profiteering
Privatization always follows the same pattern: corporations buy up a public asset, strip it down for maximum profit, and pass the costs onto consumers. If Trump’s privatization scheme succeeds, the consequences will be dire:
- Drastically increased postage rates: The USPS currently delivers a first-class letter anywhere in the U.S. for around 68 cents. In contrast, private carriers charge significantly more—often over five times as much—for similar services. A privatized postal system would eliminate affordable flat-rate pricing, making it prohibitively expensive for small businesses, nonprofits, and everyday Americans to send mail.
- Eliminating daily service in rural areas: Under privatization, deliveries would be based on profitability rather than public needs. Rural communities could see mail delivery cut to only a few times per week. Essential services such as prescription medication deliveries, Social Security checks, and voting ballots would face dangerous delays.
- Job losses and union-busting: The USPS is one of the largest employers of veterans and offers good-paying, union-protected jobs with benefits. Privatization would lead to mass layoffs and a shift toward low-wage, non-union labor, further undermining the middle class.
The Constitutional and Democratic Role of the USPS
The Postal Service is not just a convenience but a fundamental institution enshrined in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 7). It plays a critical role in our democracy, ensuring equal access to mail services for every American, regardless of wealth or geography. It is particularly crucial for vote-by-mail programs, which millions of Americans rely on to participate in elections. Under Trump’s previous administration, deliberate attempts to slow down the mail were widely criticized as voter suppression tactics. If the USPS is privatized, corporate-controlled mail service could become another tool for disenfranchising voters, especially in rural and minority communities.
Fighting Back: The Urgent Need to Protect the USPS
The good news is that the American people can stop this privatization effort. Public pressure has worked before—when Trump’s appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy attempted to dismantle mail sorting machines before the 2020 election, widespread outrage forced a partial reversal. The fight to protect the USPS must continue, and here’s how people can take action:
- Call Congress – Demand that representatives oppose any efforts to transfer the USPS to the Commerce Department or sell it to private interests. Support legislation that strengthens and modernizes the USPS rather than dismantling it.
- Support Postal Workers’ Unions – The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and other labor organizations are leading the fight against privatization. Supporting their efforts strengthens worker protections and keeps the Postal Service accountable to the public rather than private profit.
- Vote for Candidates Who Support Public Services – The battle over USPS is part of a broader war against public goods. Electing leaders prioritizing community needs over corporate profits is essential to preserving vital institutions.
- Spread the Truth – Right-wing misinformation about the USPS is rampant. Educating friends, family, and neighbors about the manufactured financial crisis and the dangers of privatization is key to mobilizing resistance.
Conclusion: A Public Good Worth Fighting For
The United States Postal Service is more than just a mail carrier—it is an essential institution that connects every American, ensures fair access to services, and sustains thousands of good-paying jobs. Trump’s push to privatize it is yet another example of his administration’s loyalty to corporate interests over the public good. If successful, this move will disproportionately harm rural Americans, seniors, small businesses, and low-income communities—all while making mail services more expensive and less reliable.
The fight to save the USPS is about more than just mail—it is about defending democracy, protecting public services, and rejecting the corporate takeover of essential infrastructure. Every American, regardless of political affiliation, should unite against this blatant attempt to privatize one of the country’s most effective and beloved institutions. The time to act is now.
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