Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(166,309 posts)
27. "USPS's chief budget constraint is the GOP Congress's requirement that the pension fund be FULLY funded"
Sun Dec 21, 2025, 03:33 PM
Dec 21

There is no requirement to "fully fund" the retirement for USPS.

USPS retirement benefits are either FERS or CSRS (the latter for those who were hired before 1984).

The USPS Inspector General described what was going on with the actual pension (annuity) - What is the debate about the Postal Service’s share of pension costs?

USPS OIG paper on the history - Postal Retirement Funds in Perspective: Historical Evolution and Ongoing Challenges

In a nutshell, the issue is that the postal service has to do their contributions from their own revenue (employees contribute per the percentages from CSRS or FERS).

The one financial killer was the pre-fund of health benefits mandate that occurred in 2006 under Shrub and THAT was repealed 3 years ago -

H.R.3076 - Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

Public Law No: 117-108 (04/06/2022)

Postal Service Reform Act of 2022


This bill addresses the finances and operations of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish the Postal Service Health Benefits Program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program under which OPM may contract with carriers to offer health benefits plans for USPS employees and retirees.

The bill provides for coordinated enrollment of retirees under this program and Medicare.

The bill repeals the requirement that the USPS annually prepay future retirement health benefits.

Additionally, the USPS may establish a program to enter into agreements with an agency of any state government, local government, or tribal government, and with other government agencies, to provide certain nonpostal products and services that reasonably contribute to the costs of the USPS and meet other specified criteria.

The USPS must develop and maintain a publicly available dashboard to track service performance and must report regularly on its operations and financial condition.

The Postal Regulatory Commission must annually submit to the USPS a budget of its expenses. It must also conduct a study to identify the causes and effects of postal inefficiencies relating to flats (e.g., large envelopes).

The USPS Office of Inspector General shall perform oversight of the Postal Regulatory Commission.


Almost 20 years of that pre-fund nonsense drained much of their money and left them in a hole with respect to funding other stuff and it's a matter of digging out of that.

One new "practical" problem manufactured by the now-departed DeJoy's nonsensical "logistics", is this perfect example that I will offer that is happening now to me - I bought some boxes of fudge from James Candy Company (that makes Fralinger's candy like salt water taffy, etc., and has been in business in Atlantic City, NJ since the 1880s). AC is about 60 miles SE from Philadelphia and they always sent USPS, and it basically got trucked straight to Philly.



But NOW, here is my current tracking -

Moving Through Network

Departed USPS Regional Facility
PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 21, 2025, 6:35 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
PHILADELPHIA PA DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 19, 2025, 10:09 am

In Transit to Next Facility
December 19, 2025, 8:39 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 19, 2025, 7:38 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
JERSEY CITY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 19, 2025, 2:12 am

Departed USPS Regional Facility
STAMFORD CT DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 19, 2025, 1:00 am

Arrived at USPS Regional Facility
STAMFORD CT DISTRIBUTION CENTER
December 18, 2025, 10:18 pm


Shipment Received, Package Acceptance Pending
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401
December 17, 2025, 12:39 pm

Shipping Label Created, USPS Awaiting Item
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ 08401
December 17, 2025, 8:21 am


Highlighting = WTAF of sending the box FROM NJ, then TO CT, and then BACK to NJ again to get to Philly.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Yeah. GOP has been working towards privatizing USPS for a while... Nittersing Dec 21 #1
I remember Newt Gingrich toying with the idea. oasis Dec 22 #39
makes me sad barbtries Dec 21 #2
I have mixed feelings. I still pay some of my bills generalbetrayus Dec 21 #4
Of those bills that you still pay by mail, can you pay them online? Polybius Dec 21 #15
Paying online is fine till the internet goes down b/c power or other reasons. Dixiegrrrl Dec 21 #17
One thing that I have learned here in Florida markodochartaigh Dec 21 #29
i'm not sure where my checks are, barbtries Dec 21 #25
I can, but I have reasons for not doing so. In one case, generalbetrayus Dec 22 #35
I would miss the delivery by the USPS. Out here in rural Arkansas and as a 77 year old it is nice to have. There have LiberalArkie Dec 21 #16
This could very feasibly happen here in the US in the not too distant future.... anciano Dec 21 #3
Ones and zeroes... GiqueCee Dec 21 #10
Exactly angrychair Dec 21 #21
See my comment 35. Paying a fee to pay a bill online generalbetrayus Dec 22 #36
In actual fact, all we have right now, and for some time, is ones and zeros.... reACTIONary Dec 21 #28
When Nixon, bless his black, shriveled little heart... GiqueCee Dec 21 #30
The general economic consensus is that a gold standard, both domestic and international, ... reACTIONary Dec 21 #33
Will the Refereees at football games popsdenver Dec 21 #19
A worthless Trump commemorative coin. generalbetrayus Dec 22 #37
AI and crypto is what they want, IMHO Evolve Dammit Dec 21 #22
Article doesn't say if this affects holiday cards and other greeting cards IronLionZion Dec 21 #5
"Article doesn't say if this affects holiday cards and other greeting cards" BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #8
USPS is pricing itself out of reach bucolic_frolic Dec 21 #6
USPS's chief budget constraint is the GOP Congress's requirement that the pension fund be FULLY funded -- eppur_se_muova Dec 21 #18
"USPS's chief budget constraint is the GOP Congress's requirement that the pension fund be FULLY funded" BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #27
Thanks for the info. Not all of use can keep up with all the wonky details. The main point I remembered was that ... eppur_se_muova Dec 21 #31
The damage was that pre-fund-for-75-years crap BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #32
Somebody in your area must have real pull with the USPS. generalbetrayus Dec 22 #38
I don't think our mail Karma13612 Dec 21 #7
"Once this goes into effect, they'll have to figure out who is going to deliver ballots to voters." BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #9
Danes have advanced voting Old Crank Dec 21 #12
The difference though BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #14
THIS eggplant Dec 21 #26
Yes. Old Crank Dec 21 #34
Online voting would be ripe for manipulation Bayard Dec 21 #23
Kick dalton99a Dec 21 #11
Denmark has 6 million people in half the area of Maine Old Crank Dec 21 #13
A private company with no pension obligation's are able to do it cheaper for obvious reasons Mr. Sparkle Dec 21 #20
We Await Silent Tristero's Empire Prairie Gates Dec 21 #24
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Danish postal service to ...»Reply #27