U.S. Postal Service’s Processing Network Optimization and Service Impacts

Our objective was to determine if the U.S. Postal Service’s processing network is operating at optimal efficiency and meeting service standards. Our fieldwork was completed before the President of the United States issued the national emergency declaration concerning the novel Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) on March 13, 2020. The results of this audit do not reflect process and/or operational changes that may have occurred as a result of the pandemic. The Postal Service estimates significant revenue declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. Therefore, it is vital that the Postal Service focus on its financial health and address causes for costs increasing at a time when mail volumes decreased.