The United States Postal Service is struggling mightily during the coronavirus pandemic and may run out of money by the end of the year.
USPS’s overall financial condition is deteriorating and unsustainable, according to the Government Accountability Office
As of 2018, the USPS had $143 billion in total unfunded liabilities in debt and due to the coronavirus, mail volume is down by one-third year-over-year. Because the post office relies on postage sales for its funding, it has been operating at deficit for over a decade, including a $9 billion deficit in 2018.
Postmaster general Megan Brennan told the House Oversight and Reform Committee the USPS could be out of funds by September and has requested an $89 billion lifeline for the post office in the next coronavirus bill. However, President Trump has previously threatened to veto any legislation that would bailout the USPS.
Rural America may suffer the most if the USPS ceases operations.
“In order to provide certainty to rural America, Congress must recognize financial assistance is necessary and push back on proposals to privatize the USPS,” Kansas Senator Jerry Moran said.
According to the American Postal Workers Union, 1.2 billion prescriptions are delivered annually through the mail, including almost all prescriptions from the VA. In total, about 20 percent of Americans over the age of 40 get their prescriptions by mail. Furthermore, more than half the people who get prescriptions by mail are over the age of 65, and rural communities have the largest share of the population over the age of 65.
Additionally, an estimated 14.5 million people in rural America have inadequate and 18 percent of Americans pay their bills by mail.
“I do think were it not for the post office the economic disparities between urban or rural or suburban communities would get worse,” added fellow U.S. Rep. from Kansas Sharice Davids. Davis’ mother served in the army and worked for the USPS for 19 years.