USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service across the nation. With origins dating back to 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first postmaster general, the modern USPS commenced operations on July 1, 1971, when the Post Office Department was reorganized. The agency operates under a statutory obligation to serve all Americans, regardless of geography, at uniform price and quality—known as the universal service obligation.

USPS utilizes a workforce of more than 644,000 employees, making it one of the nation's largest employers. The service operates through an extensive network of post offices and processing facilities, delivering to every address in the United States—over 167 million delivery points. The agency is governed by an 11-member Board of Governors appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The organization has no taxpayer funding and operates solely on revenue from postage and services, making it a self-sustaining enterprise.

In recent years, USPS has undergone significant modernization through the 'Delivering for America' plan—a $40 billion, 10-year investment strategy launched to upgrade processing, transportation, and delivery networks. This includes converting approximately 400 sites into Sorting and Delivery Centers, acquiring 106,000 new vehicles (including at least 66,000 electric vehicles), and implementing advanced technologies. For fiscal year 2024, USPS generated revenue from shipping and packages of $32.26 billion, an increase of $625 million (2%) from FY2023, though total volume decreased by 3.2%. The organization maintains its commitment to providing trusted, safe, and secure communications between government, businesses, and the American people.