Trump is expected to issue an executive order soon that would assign oversight of the USPS to the Commerce Department. This shift is seen by some policy observers as a potential first step toward privatizing the postal service, which employs over 533,000 people. Before taking office, Trump expressed interest in making USPS a private enterprise.

This action aligns with a recent executive order aimed at consolidating governmental power, requiring independent agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission to submit proposed regulations to the White House for review. The order also mandates that agency heads submit strategic plans to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for alignment with presidential priorities.

A clue that changes were imminent surfaced when Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced plans to resign. DeJoy, a Trump donor appointed during the former administration, has been leading a decade-long plan to modernize the USPS and cut $4 billion in annual costs.

Trump’s ability to enact these changes could be facilitated by filling several vacancies on the USPS board of governors, which selects the postmaster general with Senate confirmation. Last month, reports indicated Trump was actively seeking candidates to replace DeJoy, despite lacking direct authority to fire him.

In response to the mounting concerns, Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, condemned the potential takeover, calling it an “outrageous, unlawful attack” on a vital national institution. He emphasized that the public Postal Service is a cornerstone of a $1.2 trillion mail and shipping industry that supports over 7 million jobs across the country.

Experts have expressed mixed opinions on the potential restructuring. John Costanzo, a parcel and freight transportation consultant, acknowledged the need for some revamping of the postal board but raised questions about how the agency would function under the Commerce Department. He suggested that large mailers benefiting from taxpayer-subsidized discounts would likely be the most vocal against any transfer of power.

DeJoy has defended his policies amid criticism of the USPS’s uneven service and rising costs. The Postal Regulatory Commission has questioned the effectiveness of DeJoy’s initiatives, suggesting they negatively impact service for certain products and rural communities. In a recent letter, DeJoy defended his cost-saving measures and criticized the Commission for what he called a one-sided narrative.

While DeJoy acknowledged that some operational changes have led to temporary service disruptions, he emphasized that adjustments based on lessons learned are crucial for improvements. The Postal Service maintains that its proposals are not speculative but reflect achievable strategies aimed at enhancing efficiency and reliability.

As the situation unfolds, the implications of Trump’s potential takeover of the USPS could have far-reaching effects on mail delivery and the future of postal services in the United States.