Postmaster warns of “end of postal service as we know it”
USPS warns Congress it could hit a cash wall without authority to borrow beyond a $15B cap.
Mar 16, 2026
Sources
Summary
The article spotlights Postmaster General David Steiner’s warning that, without a higher borrowing limit, USPS could run out of cash and face a fundamental breakdown in service. The core issue is not a sudden crisis but a long-running structural mismatch: falling first-class mail volume, persistent losses, and statutory constraints on borrowing and pricing that force repeated brinkmanship with Congress.
Reality Check
USPS leadership is publicly warning that, under current law (notably a $15B borrowing cap already reached) and current cash burn, the agency could face a liquidity crisis by early 2027 unless Congress changes financing/operating rules. (newsweek.com)
Detail
Postmaster General David Steiner is scheduled to testify to Congress on Tuesday, warning USPS needs higher borrowing capacity to avoid running out of cash.
USPS has a statutory borrowing cap of $15 billion and has already reached it.
USPS delivers to 170+ million U.S. addresses six days per week (per the article).
The story cites cumulative net losses of $118 billion since 2007 and first-class mail volume at its lowest since the late 1960s.
Steiner previously told Reuters (December) USPS has a precarious cash position and could be out of cash in early 2027.