The US Postal Service was authorized as one of the limited powers of the Federal Government in the original US Constitution. At the time, writing and sending letters was required for businesses and families.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) was established in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. The USPS was initially designed to facilitate communication, particularly among military leaders and elected officials, and to support the growth of a democratic nation through the delivery of newspapers and other information. Over time, the USPS expanded its services, geographically and technologically, to accommodate a growing population and diverse needs. The USPS is currently an independent agency within the executive branch, operating like a business while also fulfilling a critical public service.
Key Milestones in USPS History:
1775: The Second Continental Congress establishes the USPS, appointing Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General.
1792: The Post Office Act establishes a permanent federal postal system.
Mid-19th Century: Congress simplifies postage rates and introduces home delivery of mail, first in cities and then in rural areas.
1863: Free mail delivery is authorized in cities where postage revenues cover operating costs.
1970: The Postal Reorganization Act transforms the Post Office Department into the USPS, an independent agency.
Late 20th Century - Early 21st Century: The USPS adopts new technologies for sorting, tracking, and delivering mail, but also faces challenges from the rise of electronic communication.
2006:
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act addresses financial issues and
service delivery.
Evolution of USPS:
Early Post Office: Limited to mail delivery between communities and relied on horse-drawn carriages or stagecoaches.
Expansion: The USPS expanded geographically with the growth of the nation and the introduction of railroads for mail transport.
Technological Advancements: The USPS adopted various technologies, including pneumatic tubes, automatic letter sorters, and barcodes, to improve efficiency.
Modern USPS: Provides a wide range of services, including mail delivery, package delivery, and international shipping, with a focus on customer service and financial sustainability.
Ongoing
Challenges and Future Directions:
· The USPS faces
challenges from the decline of physical mail volume due to the rise of
electronic communication.
· The USPS is working to
improve service, customer satisfaction, and its financial viability through a
combination of technological innovation, streamlined operations, and
public-private partnerships.
· The USPS continues to
adapt to changing needs and technologies while maintaining its commitment to
universal service, which provides access to mail and delivery services for all
Americans.
https://www.google.com/search?q=united+states+postal+service+history
In
2023, about 15% of U.S. household bill payments were still made by
mail, including those paid by check. This means that while the number of
bills paid by mail has significantly decreased, it still represents a small but
notable portion of payments. In the same year, 80% of bills received by
mail were paid electronically, and 51% of all household payments were made
online, marking the first time over half of payments were online.
It's
difficult to pinpoint an exact percentage of electronically paid bills that
encounter fraud, but recent data suggests it's a significant problem. A
2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey indicates that 79% of organizations
were victims of payments
fraud attacks/attempts in 2024, and 63% cited Business
Email Compromise (BEC) as the primary avenue for fraud attempts. Other
research also shows a high rate of organizations experiencing payments
fraud.
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+percentage+of+electronically+paid+bills+encounter+frauds
While
the federal government maintains a national database for tracking
deaths, it's not a direct repository of individual death
certificates. The National
Death Index (NDI), maintained
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stores selected data
from death certificates, but it doesn't hold the certificates
themselves. Individual death certificates are primarily kept by state and
county vital records offices.
https://www.google.com/search?q=are+death+certificates+recorded+on+a+us+government+database
In
2024, the USPS had 533,724 employees. This number includes both
career and pre-career employees. As of March 2024, the USPS had 525,377
career employees and nearly 114,623 pre-career employees.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+employees+did+USPS+have+in+2024
In
2025, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has approximately
530,000 employees. However, the Postal
Service is
expected to eliminate 10,000 positions through a voluntary early retirement
program. This means the number of employees will likely be closer to
520,000 by the end of the year.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+employees+does+USPS+have+in+2025
Downsizing: USPS to reduce headcount by 10,000 of its 530,000 employees over time using voluntary early retirement. Competition from Amazon, UPS and FedEx has taken its toll.
Comments
The USPS maintains a database of current addresses that will be needed to confirm citizenship. If AI can connect to USPS database with a confirmed US citizen database, we can determine how many citizens actually live in their districts. These databases should be able to connect with voter registration records, drivers’ license records, birth databases and Death Certificate databases. Having all of these databases connected will be needed to improve the accuracy of all records and identify errors.
The USPS could assist with the US Census that needs to separate US Citizens from Illegals and Foreign Nationals.
The vulnerability of electronic money transfers is increasing. I-Phones are easy to hack. Fraud and Identity Theft are increasing. Close monitoring of Bank Statements and Credit Card Bills is required. Tighter control of Home Titles by government title offices is needed.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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