How long has the USPS been in financial trouble?

USPS has reported net losses of nearly $100 billion since 2007. That stems in part from 2006 legislation that required that the agency pre-fund more than $120 billion in retiree healthcare and pension liabilities, a requirement that labor unions have called an unfair burden not shared by other businesses.

How did the USPS get into debt?

The Postal Service’s debt “is a direct result of the mandate that it must pre-fund the retiree health plan,” the USPS Inspector General wrote in 2015. Some policymakers see a chance for reform without resorting to the controversial cost-cutting measures from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

Did the government borrow money from USPS?

The Postal Service receives no direct taxpayer funds. It relies on revenues from stamps and other service fees. Although COVID-19 has choked off the USPS revenue in recent months, factors that arose well before coronavirus have contributed to the unsustainability of the Postal Service’s financial situation for years.

Is USPS financially solvent?

Specifically, USPS is expected to be financially self-sufficient by covering its expenses through revenues generated from the sale of its products and services. However, USPS is now unable to do so. The use of USPS’s most profitable product—First-Class Mail—is expected to continue declining for the foreseeable future.

Is USPS self sustaining?

USPS’s expenses and revenues USPS is expected to be financially self-sufficient, meaning that it is supposed to cover its expenses through revenues generated from the sale of its products and services. However, USPS’s revenues do not cover its expenses.

What happens if USPS goes out of business?

If the USPS shuts down, then they will be left without an affordable option to access vital drugs. People with disabilities rely on the Postal Service to mail their prescriptions for similar reasons. Many simply cannot travel to the closest city, let alone leave their houses, to pick up their prescriptions.

Is the USPS self sustaining?

How much debt does the US Postal Service have?

The Postal Service hasn’t made those payments since 2012. Overall it faces unpaid obligations of $63 billion, according to its most recent annual report. The bill forgives much of that debt.

Why is the Postal Service always in debt?

But perhaps the biggest reason for financial troubles is the USPS’ retirement funding. In 2006, Congress forced the Postal Service to prepay health benefits and pensions for its retirees. That came with a $110 billion price tag. For context, no other government agency or private company is required to do that.

How much has the Postal Service lost in debt?

By the end of the decade, the semi-independent government agency’s losses had reached a record $8.5 billion, forcing the Postal Service to consider seeking an increase in its $15 billion debt ceiling or face insolvency.

When did the post office start to lose money?

When Postal Service Losses Began. Although the Postal Service lost money in the early part of the decade, in 2001 and 2003, the most significant losses came after the passage of a 2006 law requiring the agency to refund retiree health benefits. Under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006, the USPS is required to pay $5.4 billion…

How much will the post office lose in 2021?

Postal Service Net Income/Loss By Year 2021 – $9.7 billion loss (projected) 2020 – $9.2 billion loss 2019 – $8.8 billion loss

What is the history of the United States postal service?

The United States Postal Service (USPS) can trace itself back to the American Revolution and Benjamin Franklin, who was even one of two postmasters general before the states split from the British crown. In all that time until the early 1970s, the service broke even each year, paying salaries, pensions and more.