Progressives Vow to Stop Trump from Privatizing Postal Service!

Recent reports have emerged that Donald Trump, as he prepares for his second term, is considering ways to privatize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Progressives have strongly opposed these plans, focusing their criticism on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who was appointed during Trump’s first term.

According to sources close to the president-elect’s team, as reported by the Washington Post on Saturday, Trump is eager to explore a privatization plan that would transfer the USPS to private, profit-driven entities.

As per the Washington Post:

At his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump discussed his plans to reform the Postal Service with Howard Lutnick, his nominee for commerce secretary and the co-chair of his presidential transition team. This month, Trump also gathered a group of transition advisors to gather their opinions on privatizing the agency, one source mentioned.

Upon learning about the postal agency’s yearly financial deficits, Trump commented that the government should not be supporting the agency financially, according to the sources who requested anonymity.

Trump’s adversarial stance towards various government-run services that benefit the public, such as Medicare, Social Security, public education, and consumer protection agencies, is well known.

“The United States Postal Service is an invaluable public asset built and owned by the American people, and there is absolutely no public consent to hand it over to a private owner.”

Trump’s endorsement of DeJoy as the Postmaster General in 2020, and his continued support despite numerous calls for DeJoy’s dismissal, have raised concerns among Republicans about potential efforts to undermine the agency from within.

DeJoy has remained in his position as Postmaster General despite ongoing accusations that his management is weakening the USPS, thereby making a stronger case for its eventual privatization.

While the Washington Post article from Saturday notes that Trump’s specific plans for revamping the Postal Service in his forthcoming term “remain vague,” it did mention Casey Mulligan, a chief economic advisor in the previous administration, who praised the efficiency of the private sector over the supposedly slow and expensive Postal Service.

“We didn’t complete the task in the first term, but now we should,” Mulligan stated.

In response, advocates for maintaining the public nature of the Postal Service have voiced their opposition to any attempts at privatization. The USPS is among the most favored federal agencies in the U.S.

“The Post Office is enshrined in our constitution,” declared Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Saturday. “There is no way we are going to allow Donald Trump to privatize it. We should dismiss his appointee, DeJoy, and appoint a qualified professional to properly manage it. The primary focus should be on mail delivery. If there’s a need to cut costs, start with the excessive spending at the Pentagon.”

Former Ohio state senator Nina Turner also spoke in defense of the USPS, noting that “72% of Americans approve of the U.S. Postal Service, which is vital for many seniors who receive their medications through the mail, particularly in rural areas.”

Progressive critics have long argued that the financial troubles of the Postal Service are largely due to the burdensome requirement imposed by the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which mandates that the USPS pre-fund its future retirees’ health benefits, costing billions annually.

“Regardless of political affiliation,” said Micah Rasmussen, director of The Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, “we should all agree that the United States Postal Service is a critical public utility that belongs to every American, and there is absolutely no public support for its privatization.”