The coronavirus pandemic has affected business operations, both public and private, in all parts of the globe and even iconic institutions such as the US Postal Service have seen “devastating” drops in revenue.
In fact, the USPS has gone on record to say that they need funding from Congress to guarantee that they can continue delivering letters and packages to millions of Americans that are on lockdown at home.
Unfortunately, the proposed stimulus plans that are meant to prop up other types of US businesses have not included the Postal Service. That’s why some people decided to help things along by buying stamps, starting online discussions about why the postal service is an integral part of American life, an paying tribute to the mail carriers.
The hashtags #USPostalService and #saveUSPS were re-tweeted thousands of times after a report from the Washington Post said that President Trump has personally blocked any emergency funding to the beleaguered mail service.
The article from the Post stated that the version of the stimulus package that included a $13 billion bailout for the US Postal Service would be vetoed by Trump. Instead, the agency would be extended a $10 billion loan.
The USPS has had financial issues for decades but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated its woes when it impacted its biggest funding source, first-class, and marketing mail.
“We now estimate that the COVID-19 pandemic will increase the Postal Service’s net operating loss by more than $22 billion dollars over the next eighteen months, and by over $54 billion dollars over the longer term, threatening our ability to operate,” Postmaster General Megan Brennan said in a statement on April 10.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat, has led efforts to give aid to the USPS but he said Trump personally blocked such moves.
“Every single one of us will feel the impact if the #USPostalService disappears, @realDonaldTrump,” Connolly tweeted on April 12. “The American people want to #SaveTheUSPS. Whether we can is up to you.”
As the purchases of stamps have ramped up, the USPS website informs people that “due to a high volume of orders at this time” users should “allow an additional 2-3 days for the delivery” of their order.
Replaced!