USPS Board reverses Postmaster General’s decision to cut Saturday mail service

The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued a statement today confirming the conclusion of Congressman Gerry Connolly and the U.S. Government Accountability Office that USPS lacks the legal authority to cut mail delivery from six days to five.

Connolly was quoted in a news release as saying, “I applaud today’s decision by the Board of Governors to direct the Postmaster General to cease his misguided efforts to blatantly disregard the will of Congress, and the rule of law itself. Whether one believes we must preserve our Nation’s universal service standard, or prefers that we drastically cut mail volume and revenue, we all should be able to agree that it is imperative that the Postal Service follow the law.”

Connolly has argued for months that USPS is bound by current law to continue 6-day mail delivery and rural delivery of mail at not less than the 1983 level of delivery.  His assertion was backed up by a legal opinion issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, at Connolly’s request, on March 21.

“The USPS finally admitted it had no legal justification to circumvent existing law and unilaterally implement a change in delivery service that many believe will not only disrupt mail service, but also exacerbate USPS revenue losses and contribute to the decline of this constitutionally-mandated service to all Americans,” Connolly said.  “I hope this quells the fervor of those in Congress, the Postal Service, and in the media who encouraged the Postmaster General to ignore the rule of law.”

Connolly said, “I hope it is now clear to those who supported the reduced mail delivery that no one and no agency, including the U.S. Postal Service, is above the law.”