Dang, ain’t fact checked this….

[Eastmandawg]

but AI sayz the USPS has lost more than 100 billion since ‘07….and it looks to be getting worse.

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) has had a history of financial losses, including a $6.5 billion net loss in 2023. The USPS has lost more than $100 billion since 2007. “

I knew they have been in the red for a while, but those are just crazy numbers.

 

[Cayle16]

Trump begged them to raise their prices for years but they refused.

 

[BlessedDawg]

but AI sayz the USPS has lost more than 100 billion since ‘07….and it looks to be getting worse.

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) has had a history of financial losses, including a $6.5 billion net loss in 2023. The USPS has lost more than $100 billion since 2007. “

I knew they have been in the red for a while, but those are just crazy numbers.

Sell USPS to FedEx or UPS and privatize the mail system. With more and more communication and bill paying done online it doesn’t make sense to continue the traditional mail system.

 

[Eastmandawg]

Sell USPS to FedEx or UPS and privatize the mail system. With more and more communication and bill paying done online it doesn’t make sense to continue the traditional mail system.

It’s been talked about for years (also Amazon). All we need is someone with enough of coconuts to do it.

JAWAG, think we may have him - time will tell.

 

[bayrooster]

They've gone way downhill since the days when legendary men like Cliff and Newman worked for the US Postal Service.

 

[Eastmandawg]

They've gone way downhill since the days when legendary men like Cliff and Newman worked for the US Postal Service.

At least Cliff & Norm had their priorities right.

 

[28804Dawg]

US postal SERVICE. it’s a service, not a business. 6.5 billion is about $18 per citizen a year. Personally, I’m ok paying 20 bucks in taxes for mail service. Making mail private would certainly cost more.
That said, a review and efficiency audit should be done and problems addressed.

 

[Eastmandawg]

US postal SERVICE. it’s a service, not a business. 6.5 billion is about $18 per citizen a year. Personally, I’m ok paying 20 bucks in taxes for mail service. Making mail private would certainly cost more.
That said, a review and efficiency audit should be done and problems addressed.

Understand your point, but they would need to axe for more of your tax money and mine to at least make it break even…..nonetheless, the losses ain’t free, someone is already paying.

Besides, most all of what I get now is junk mail. Email has replaced letters and I pay my bills online.

Would like to see a pro forma for both the USPS and a replacement as an alternative before I could make an educated guess on which is best.

Not sure of the best solution until I would see it. My guess is, there has to be a better way. It seems to be an antiquated system & has been for years.

 

[28804Dawg]

Understand your point, but they would need to axe for more of your tax money and mine to at least make it break even…..nonetheless, the losses ain’t free, someone is already paying.

Besides, most all of what I get now is junk mail. Email has replaced letters and I pay my bills online.

Nonetheless - would like to see a per forma for both the USPS and a replacement as an alternative before I could make an educated guess on which is best.

Not sure of the best solution until I would see it. My guess is, there has to be a better way. It seems to be an antiquated system.

I get all that. I’ve had more issues with fedex than the usps personally and privatization comes with risks as well. Mail could just stop due to contract disputes.
Mostly I just think there are other areas of government that are wasting way more money that should be addressed.

 

[Eastmandawg]

I get all that. I’ve had more issues with fedex than the usps personally and privatization comes with risks as well. Mail could just stop due to contract disputes.
Mostly I just think there are other areas of government that are wasting way more money that should be addressed.

If it stopped, people would use UPS, Amazon or FedEx. There are more choices than just FedEx.

Again, I get nothing but junk mail now.

It’s an issue and pretty sure that more than two balls could be juggled at once with the current administration.

Again, don’t know of the right answer until I see what I posted above (pro forma)… maybe to raise the prices is. But what is in place now certainly doesn’t seem to be the way to go…the bleeding needs to stop.

 

[doerunn]

• Congress passed the Post Office Act of 1792, which made the Postal Service a permanent part of the federal government

 

[Eastmandawg]

• Congress passed the Post Office Act of 1792, which made the Postal Service a permanent part of the federal government

So???…he just needs “an act of congress”.

Honestly, don’t think it will get done, it may be his way of trying to improve the situation. IE, raising the prices, maybe shutting down some of the rural locations & slower locations in the city to improve the overhead etc.

He plays poker a lot and it sometimes works.

 

[dawgfood0612]

The post office certainly needs changes, but keep in mind that in 2007, a law was passed that required the post office to set up a $72 Billion dollar fund to pay for post retirement benefits. No other federal agency or private corporation accounts for the benefits in this manner, i.e. certain amounts are expensed each year. The firstTrump administration acknowledged the burden of that law. Below is a summary:

In 2006, Congress passed a law that imposed extraordinary costs on the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) required the USPS to create a $72 billion fund to pay for the cost of its post-retirement health care costs, 75 years into the future. This burden applies to no other federal agency or private corporation.

The Trump Task Force acknowledged that without the costs imposed by the Post-Retirement Health Care Mandate, USPS would today be profitable on an operating basis.

If other agencies had this requirement, they too would be in the red.

 

[3 Pete]

$10 billion for electric postal service trucks

https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/aud...rnization-delivery-vehicle-acquisition-status

 

[The Original SLC Dawg]

Brother in law was a postmaster in several large facilities. What it did was give him a bad heart from the stress of getting them to do a days work. All they do is carry junk mail out here. We get little real mail. Everything is online. They deliver, and I’m not making fun of the harder working rural post office employees, Amazon on Sundays. I tell them I don’t need that book/tool/shirt until Monday, don’t come on Sunday. But they do.

 

[poochpup]

but AI sayz the USPS has lost more than 100 billion since ‘07….and it looks to be getting worse.

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) has had a history of financial losses, including a $6.5 billion net loss in 2023. The USPS has lost more than $100 billion since 2007. “

I knew they have been in the red for a while, but those are just crazy numbers.

if I'm not mistaken, I believe President Trump is suggesting a merger with the Commerce Dept. For the very reason that is loses tremendous amounts of money since early 2000s.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-...ing-postal-service-under-commerce-department/

https://nypost.com/2025/02/21/us-news/trump-floats-merging-postal-service-with-commerce-department/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/grap...ake-control-of-us-postal-service/79411294007/

 

[Booneville Dawg]

US postal SERVICE. it’s a service, not a business. 6.5 billion is about $18 per citizen a year. Personally, I’m ok paying 20 bucks in taxes for mail service. Making mail private would certainly cost more.
That said, a review and efficiency audit should be done and problems addressed.

Some things are definitely a service and may never be profitable. The Post Office has had some notorious management problems over the years that have not helped their cause.

 

[Lava-Man]

The post office certainly needs changes, but keep in mind that in 2007, a law was passed that required the post office to set up a $72 Billion dollar fund to pay for post retirement benefits. No other federal agency or private corporation accounts for the benefits in this manner, i.e. certain amounts are expensed each year. The firstTrump administration acknowledged the burden of that law. Below is a summary:

In 2006, Congress passed a law that imposed extraordinary costs on the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) required the USPS to create a $72 billion fund to pay for the cost of its post-retirement health care costs, 75 years into the future. This burden applies to no other federal agency or private corporation.

The Trump Task Force acknowledged that without the costs imposed by the Post-Retirement Health Care Mandate, USPS would today be profitable on an operating basis.

If other agencies had this requirement, they too would be in the red.

So, I'm trying to figure out why you referenced Trump's administration here when this started under Bush, was the same under Obama, and continued under both Trump & Biden.

All the "decisions" you referenced were under Obama.

What point are you making? That the government is screwing this up? I agree. What does Trump have to do with this? This is screaming for a DOGE audit, imo.

 

[brimur]

So, I'm trying to figure out why you referenced Trump's administration here when this started under Bush, was the same under Obama, and continued under both Trump & Biden.

All the "decisions" you referenced were under Obama.

What point are you making? That the government is screwing this up? I agree. What does Trump have to do with this? This is screaming for a DOGE audit, imo.

I think he is just saying Trump agrees with him

 

[Lava-Man]

I think he is just saying Trump agrees with him

Was that the first Trump administration or the second? That is probably an important detail.

 

[brimur]

Was that the first Trump administration or the second? That is probably an important detail.

Not sure, maybe he can speak for himself. Just my best guess as to what he meant. I certainly didnt read him to be suggesting Trump had any fault in USPS budget issues

 

[Lava-Man]

Not sure, maybe he can speak for himself. Just my best guess as to what he meant. I certainly didnt read him to be suggesting Trump had any fault in USPS budget issues

That's my point. He brought up Trump when the issues referenced happened 10 years before Trump took office. Trump was literally the only politician he noted when both Bush & Obama were POTUS when what he referenced happened. Where was the Biden admin? Did they play any part? Why not reference what did or did not happen under that admin?

It screams dishonest player, given the details above. What does Trump have to do with any of it? Why leave out every other POTUS?

 

[litedawg1968]

Trump begged them to raise their prices for years but they refused.

A stamp should be $2.

 

[brimur]

That's my point. He brought up Trump when the issues referenced happened 10 years before Trump took office. Trump was literally the only politician he noted when both Bush & Obama were POTUS when what he referenced happened. Where was the Biden admin? Did they play any part? Why not reference what did or did not happen under that admin?

It screams dishonest player, given the details above. What does Trump have to do with any of it? Why leave out every other POTUS?

Because Trump is the only one whose opinion still matters? I seriously think you’re reading too much here

 

[phoenixdawg]

US postal SERVICE. it’s a service, not a business. 6.5 billion is about $18 per citizen a year. Personally, I’m ok paying 20 bucks in taxes for mail service. Making mail private would certainly cost more.
That said, a review and efficiency audit should be done and problems addressed.

problem is all citizens don’t pay the $20 because all citizens don’t pay taxes. If that cost was say $150 would you pay it? I think these services should be break even

 

[ThreeDawgNight]

Understand your point, but they would need to axe for more of your tax money and mine to at least make it break even…..nonetheless, the losses ain’t free, someone is already paying.

Besides, most all of what I get now is junk mail. Email has replaced letters and I pay my bills online.

Would like to see a pro forma for both the USPS and a replacement as an alternative before I could make an educated guess on which is best.

Not sure of the best solution until I would see it. My guess is, there has to be a better way. It seems to be an antiquated system & has been for years.

Amen.....paperless is where it's at. All I get in the mail is junk...as you said...and solicitations for donations. I've picked my charities and make either monthly or annual contributions. I wish they would save their resources and stop mailing stuff to me.

 

[28804Dawg]

The USPS losses is distraction politics 101.
USPS is overwhelming funding by its revenues of about 80 billion a year, with taxes covering the 6.5 to cover the gap.
Total government spending was 6.75 TRILLION for the same period.
A 6.5 billion loss sounds huge, but is0.095% of total spending. That barely registers as a rounding error for an organization as large as the US government.

The only reason USPS gets brought up is to distract from bigger, more expensive wastes.

 

[Dirty Hairy Dawg]

The USPS losses is distraction politics 101.
USPS is overwhelming funding by its revenues of about 80 billion a year, with taxes covering the 6.5 to cover the gap.
Total government spending was 6.75 TRILLION for the same period.
A 6.5 billion loss sounds huge, but is0.0095% of total spending. That barely registers as a rounding error for an organization as large as the US government.

The only reason USPS gets brought up is to distract from bigger, more expensive wastes.

A rounding error here, a rounding error there and pretty soon you're talking about real money. Imo, it's not an either or situation. The public certainly should demand the big issues are addressed. That doesn't mean a few billion being wasted here and there at multiple agencies is excusable. The issue is the post office and various other fed, state and even local governments don't operate efficiently and making them more efficient isn't a bad thing.

 

[28804Dawg]

A rounding error here, a rounding error there and pretty soon you're talking about real money. Imo, it's not an either or situation. The public certainly should demand the big issues are addressed. That doesn't mean a few billion being wasted here and there at multiple agencies is excusable. The issue is the post office and various other fed, state and even local governments don't operate efficiently and making them more efficient isn't a bad thing.

My point is more on focusing efforts first on areas that provide the most bang for your buck. Say you’re trying to save an extra $100, would you try and cut things that cost $20-30 or look for places to save a dime? It would take a whole lotta dimes to get you to your goal.

 

[The Original SLC Dawg]

My point is more on focusing efforts first on areas that provide the most bang for your buck. Say you’re trying to save an extra $100, would you try and cut things that cost $20-30 or look for places to save a dime? It would take a whole lotta dimes to get you to your goal.

Why not pick the low hanging fruit?

 

[dawgfood0612]

Because Trump is the only one whose opinion still matters? I seriously think you’re reading too much here

Good morning, the law was passed during the Bush administration.

During Trump’s first term, they did an audit of the postal service, and it found the service was profitable on an operating basis, but the added costs from the law requirement resulted in the huge losses. I thought it was relevant since Trump carries some weight with a large portion of this board. If I had commented that the Biden administration had done the same thing, it would have been dismissed by many,

 

[Dirty Hairy Dawg]

My point is more on focusing efforts first on areas that provide the most bang for your buck. Say you’re trying to save an extra $100, would you try and cut things that cost $20-30 or look for places to save a dime? It would take a whole lotta dimes to get you to your goal.

That is true and I don't think DOGE is focused on the PO yet. And yes the PO is an easy target but you also have to remember the 6 B in losses is what they are acknowledging. Who knows how much a true audit and fat trimming would save.

 

[28804Dawg]

That is true and I don't think DOGE is focused on the PO yet. And yes the PO is an easy target but you also have to remember the 6 B in losses is what they are acknowledging. Who knows how much a true audit and fat trimming would save.

Possibly. But it gets back to my early point if the USPS losses are really distraction politics. Everyone knows, uses, and likely has a bad experience with it, so it’s easy to rail people up about it. People see 6.5 billion and think if it’s fixed they’ll save a ton in taxes, when in reality it might save you a buck a month in taxes. And that’s assuming the savings are passed down to tax payers.
100k salary equates to 17k in federal taxes, so postal services cost you $1.41 a month.
I work in government contracting and can guarantee you there are many other areas of waste costing you much more than that.

 

[MRDAWG]

They have talked about stopping Wednesday deliveries for years. That would fix it.

but AI sayz the USPS has lost more than 100 billion since ‘07….and it looks to be getting worse.

“The United States Postal Service (USPS) has had a history of financial losses, including a $6.5 billion net loss in 2023. The USPS has lost more than $100 billion since 2007. “

I knew they have been in the red for a while, but those are just crazy numbers.