Trump Set to Take Control of USPS and Fire Postal Board in 2025.
On February 20, 2025, a seismic shift in the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) was reported, as President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order dissolving the agency’s governing board and placing it under the Commerce Department’s authority, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick. This bold move, detailed by The Washington Post based on insights from six anonymous officials, could happen as early as this week, potentially upending the 250-year-old independent mail provider. With the USPS handling trillions in e-commerce and critical services like mail-in voting, this development has ignited fierce debate over its legality, economic impact, and political motives as of today, February 21, 2025.
The USPS has operated independently since the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, a framework Trump’s plan directly challenges. The proposed executive order would dismantle the current bipartisan board, which resisted the move in an emergency meeting on Thursday, hiring legal counsel to fight back. This comes on the heels of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s resignation earlier this week, despite his recent success in turning a quarterly profit for the first time since 2020 through his “Delivering for America” plan. Trump’s history with the USPS—calling it a “joke” and criticizing its ties to Amazon—suggests a long-standing desire to reshape or even privatize the agency, a notion he floated publicly in December 2024.
The implications of this takeover are vast. The Commerce Department’s oversight could prioritize commercial interests over universal service, threatening rural mail delivery and affordable rates that millions rely on. Critics, including Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), warn of disruptions to e-commerce, which leans heavily on the USPS’s 31,000+ post offices and 161 million delivery points. Posts on X echo public fears, with some speculating Trump aims to control mail-in ballots—a sensitive issue after his 2020 election fraud claims. Supporters, however, see it as a chance to modernize a system they view as outdated, aligning with Trump’s broader push to streamline federal operations.
Legal hurdles loom large. Postal experts argue that shifting the USPS under executive control violates federal law, requiring congressional approval that Trump’s administration may struggle to secure given the agency’s $9 billion annual revenue and self-funded status. The board’s planned lawsuit could delay or derail the order, while skepticism from lawmakers like Connolly—who called it “unconstitutional”—adds pressure. A White House spokesperson has denied these plans, but the administration’s silence on specifics fuels uncertainty as the situation unfolds in real-time this February.
The timing amplifies the stakes. With DeJoy’s exit, the USPS faces a leadership vacuum during a modernization push that cut delivery times and boosted efficiency. Losing this momentum could strain holiday shipping and voter access ahead of future elections, especially if privatization follows—a process Lutnick has hinted at but not detailed. Public sentiment on X ranges from outrage over potential price hikes to cautious optimism about shedding bureaucratic weight, reflecting the polarized lens through which Americans view Trump’s agenda in 2025.
This move fits into a larger pattern of Trump’s second term, where federal agencies like the IRS and National Park Service have already faced significant cuts. Backed by figures like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump’s vision prioritizes deregulation and cost slashing. The USPS takeover could test the limits of executive power, potentially setting a precedent for other independent entities if successful. For now, the postal workforce of over 600,000 and the public await clarity as legal battles loom.
Trump’s expected control of the USPS and firing of its postal board signal a dramatic pivot for an institution woven into America’s fabric. As of February 21, 2025, the outcome hinges on legal challenges, congressional response, and public pressure. Whether this leads to a leaner postal service or chaos for mail-dependent communities, the next few weeks will be pivotal, shaping the USPS’s future and Trump’s legacy in equal measure.
