Trump announces task force to evaluate operations of Postal Service

[melm00se]

27. Trump in his heavy handed style

has a point.

If you look at the USPS financials highlights, the things that jump off the page are (for FY2017) are (in millions):

Net loss $ (2,742) <== this is just operations
Total net deficiency $ (58,724) <== this includes all the other financial hoop jumping
Unfunded retirement benefits $ 2,658 <== despite want many people think, funding pension and healthcare liabilities for the next 75 years makes a whole lot of fiscal sense so workers don't end up with the shitty end of the stick due to unfunded pensions and healthcare (google "unfunded pension liabilities" and look at the $5 trillion in unfunded state/local pensions)

In addition to those financials, the USPS has seen a drop off in 1st class, periodical and Marketing mail revenue but an increase in package shipping and international mail but the latter doesn't make up for the drop in former.

Despite this drop in revenue, there has been an increase in the number of employees and in increase in durable goods (mainly vehicles) purchases.

Looking at these issues and the changing face/needs of the postal industry, it makes a certain amount of sense to evaluate USPS operations and make recommendations to ensure that the USPS and the needs of their customers are headed in the same direction so in 5, 10, 15 years we turnaround and see a USPS that is operating in the 21st century with 20th century methods and vision.