Postal workers and labor movement allies gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday to protest President Donald Trump’s reported plan to seize control of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The proposal, which would absorb the independent agency into the Commerce Department, has raised alarms over the potential for privatization, threatening the affordability and reliability of one of the nation’s oldest public institutions.
The rally, organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), was a direct response to reports that Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would dismantle the USPS Board of Governors and transfer the agency’s oversight to the Commerce Department, headed by billionaire Howard Lutnick, a Trump appointee. According to the NALC, this move would be both “unconstitutional and illegal.”
According to The Washington Post, Trump’s executive order would terminate all members of the USPS Board of Governors and place the Postal Service under the purview of the Commerce Department. Trump praised Lutnick, stating he had a “great business instinct” and would “look at” potential changes to USPS operations.
Trump has long argued that the USPS is financially unsustainable and should be restructured to operate more like a private business. However, critics point out that the Postal Service is self-funded through the sale of postal services and products, not reliant on taxpayer funding.
This plan follows earlier efforts during Trump’s previous term, including the appointment of Louis DeJoy in 2020. DeJoy, a Republican donor and business owner, initiated several controversial cost-cutting measures during his tenure, such as eliminating overtime pay for workers and increasing postal rates. These changes were met with widespread criticism and were partially reversed by a federal judge.
On Monday, postal workers, union leaders, and supporters gathered at the Taft Carillon on Indiana Avenue, Northwest. Protesters chanted “Hell no!” and waved signs reading “Fight Like Hell,” signaling their determination to resist what they view as a blatant attempt to dismantle a beloved institution.
Fredrick Redmond, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, directly addressed the workers’ concerns:
“I want all of my postal worker brothers and sisters to know, this has nothing to do with your performance. This has nothing to do with you as workers. You provide the highest level of service to the American people.”
Redmond further condemned the administration’s actions:
“This is about an unmitigated consolidation of power by this administration, power to put more money and more resources in the hands of the billionaires as opposed to spreading the wealth amongst the people who create the wealth every day.”
Critics argue that privatizing the USPS would have devastating effects on millions of Americans, particularly those living in rural or underserved communities. The Postal Service is legally required to deliver mail to all U.S. addresses, even those deemed unprofitable by private businesses.
Jae Burlingame, a longtime mail carrier, voiced concerns about how privatization would impact rural communities:
“People in rural areas wouldn’t be able to get their medications that they depend on, they might not get mail at all, if it’s privatized.”
Privatization could also result in significant job losses. The NALC estimates that nearly 8 million jobs connected to the USPS, both directly and indirectly, could be affected.
Christy Hoffman, president of the UNI Global Union, warned of the dangers of privatizing postal services:
“We have seen the perils of privatizing postal services in Europe, which have led to reduced services, increased prices, job losses, and cut off rural communities where it is unprofitable to deliver mail.”
The NALC has declared the proposed executive order illegal, arguing that it violates the USPS’s independent status established by Congress. The move has also drawn significant political opposition from Democratic lawmakers.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and a group of Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Trump over the weekend, condemning the plan:
“Your reported plans for the Postal Service would put at risk the timely, affordable delivery of life-saving medications, mail-in ballots, important financial documents, and letters from loved ones, especially in rural or less-profitable areas that the private sector refuses to service.”
The letter also emphasized the Postal Service’s legal mandate:
“Congress prescribed a clear and critical mandate for the Postal Service: to deliver efficient, reliable, and universal service to all Americans.”
The lawmakers urged Trump to “immediately withdraw all plans to dismantle one of our nation’s most cherished public institutions and uphold the Postal Service’s independent status as required by law.”
Beyond the immediate economic consequences, critics warn that privatizing the USPS could undermine democratic participation by jeopardizing the integrity of mail-in voting systems. Many fear that rural and low-income communities would be disproportionately affected, creating barriers to voting and access to essential services.
The USPS has long played a vital role in supporting small businesses, providing affordable shipping solutions and facilitating the “last mile” of delivery for private carriers such as UPS and FedEx. Without the USPS, shipping costs could rise significantly, placing a heavy burden on small businesses and consumers alike.
The NALC and its allies argue that the USPS should instead focus on modernizing its services to meet the demands of the digital economy. As Christy Hoffman suggested:
“Instead of privatizing USPS, Trump should be supporting the Postal Service to seize opportunities in e-commerce, expand services, particularly to marginalized and remote communities, and safeguard a precious, public-owned, communication network that is ultimately irreplaceable.”
In addition to the Washington, D.C., rally, postal workers and activists have staged protests across the country. Over the weekend, postal workers in Portland, Oregon, voiced their concerns about the future of USPS under Trump’s leadership.
The labor movement and progressive lawmakers are preparing for continued resistance, vowing to protect the Postal Service from privatization efforts. The NALC and its allies plan to keep organizing protests, raising public awareness, and pressuring lawmakers to defend the USPS as a vital public institution.
Stand with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to protect the Postal Service.
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