Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
U.S. Postal Service OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
U.S. Postal Service
Report Number
RISC-WP-25-007
Report Description
- The universal service obligation (USO) guarantees all citizens within a country affordable, consistent postal service, regardless of location. However, declining mail volume and market competition have made it harder for postal operators worldwide to sustain the costs of providing the USO.
- To address these challenges, many countries are modifying their USOs by reducing delivery days, slowing service standards, changing requirements for the network of post offices, or reducing the scope of products within the USO. Depending on the country, the authority to change the USO may rest in national law, a government ministry, or a postal regulator.
- The United States’ USO legal framework is unique because there is no government department directly responsible for postal policy or a specific formal process to adjust it. Except for the six-day delivery mandate, postal law defines the USO in broad qualitative terms, which allows the Postal Service discretion to interpret the USO and adjust parameters, such as service standards or retail access, to balance service quality and financial sustainability.
- Should a reevaluation of the United States’ USO framework take place in the future, the experience of other countries highlights the value of assessing user needs and engaging stakeholders to promote an evidence-based, transparent approach to reviewing the USO.
Report Type
Inspection / Evaluation
Agency Wide
Yes
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No
