The Postal Board of Governors has announced it will heed language in the recently passed continuing resolution prohibiting implementation of a new five-day delivery schedule.
The new schedule was set for implementation for the week of August 5. The board said it directed the Postal Service to delay implementation until legislation is passed that provides the Postal Service with the authority to implement a financially appropriate and responsible delivery schedule.
USPS maintains moving to the new delivery plan (packages Monday – Saturday, mail Monday – Friday) would save $2 billion a year and is integral to its five-year business plan that responds to ongoing declines in first class mail volume.
The chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said the decision was a setback in efforts to craft comprehensive postal reform legislation and questioned the resolve of USPS leaders. His committee has started hearings on crafting a reform bill; one passed the Senate last year but the House never voted on its own version.
