Privatization of the USPS Will Jack Up Prices for Rural Americans & Veterans

Elon Musk’s DOGE is endangering thousands of postal workers' jobs with the threat of privatization. 

Privatizing even parts of the U.S. Postal Service could create a ripple effect with serious consequences for customers, workers, businesses, and the broader economy. One of the most immediate impacts? A steep rise in the cost of sending packages.

Unlike private delivery companies, the USPS is bound by a universal service mandate—it must deliver mail and packages to every address in the country at reasonable prices, no matter how remote. At present, its rates for parcel delivery are 25% to 60% lower than those charged by FedEx and UPS.

If privatization moves forward, the people most likely to feel the pinch are those in ZIP codes where private carriers already tack on extra fees due to low profitability. These often include rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Rural communities especially depend on the Postal Service. Many residents get their medications through the mail, as local pharmacies have closed in growing numbers. The USPS also plays a crucial role in getting prescriptions to military veterans—over 25% of whom live in rural regions.

Then there's the role the Postal Service plays in our democracy. During the 2024 general election, it handled more than 99 million ballots. For rural voters, mail-in voting is vital, as polling places are often located far from home. In fact, rural polling sites cover areas more than 30 times larger than those in cities.

Should critical services like prescription delivery and ballot handling be handed over to corporations focused on profits? For millions of Americans, the stakes are far too high.

As the Colorado AFL-CIO, we will always fight against billionaire overreach in essential services that working people rely on everyday. We proudly stand with APWU and the Letter Carriers. The Postal Service isn’t a playground for the ultra-rich—it’s a lifeline for working people, small businesses, rural communities, and democracy itself.

#HellNo to dismantling the USPS!