Postal Service Warns of Cash Crunch, Seeks Congressional Help

Postmaster General says USPS will run out of money within a year without borrowing cap increase

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The U.S. Postal Service will run out of cash within a year unless Congress lifts a decades-old $15 billion cap on its borrowing ability, Postmaster General David Steiner warned in an interview. Steiner said the agency may not be able to pay its employees or vendors by February 2027 without the change, potentially disrupting mail delivery.

Why it matters

The Postal Service is a critical part of the nation's infrastructure, providing universal mail delivery to every address in the country. Its financial struggles could have far-reaching impacts on individuals, businesses, and the overall economy if service is disrupted.

The details

Steiner, who took over as Postmaster General last year, said the Postal Service has all the burdens of a government agency like delivering mail six days a week to every address, but none of the benefits like an annual federal budget appropriation. He called raising the borrowing limit the 'easiest thing' Congress can do immediately to help the agency, which has seen annual mail volume plummet from 220 billion pieces to 110 billion over the past 15 years.

  • The Postal Service's net losses for fiscal year 2025 totaled $9 billion.
  • Net losses in fiscal year 2024 were $9.5 billion.
  • Steiner took over as Postmaster General in July 2025.

The players

David Steiner

The current Postmaster General, who previously served as CEO of the nation's largest waste management company and as a member of the FedEx board of directors.

Postal Regulatory Commission

An independent agency created by Congress to oversee the Postal Service, which Steiner says won't allow the USPS to raise postage prices high enough to cover its losses.

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What they’re saying

“How long are employees going to work and vendors going to show up if we're not paying them?”

— David Steiner, Postmaster General (Associated Press)

“If the Postal Regulatory Commission adopted our pricing model, problem solved.”

— David Steiner, Postmaster General (Associated Press)

What’s next

Steiner is scheduled to testify before Congress later this month about the Postal Service's financial struggles and the need to change longstanding rules and regulations.

The takeaway

The Postal Service's financial woes highlight the need for Congress to provide regulatory relief and modernize the agency's business model to ensure it can continue providing reliable, universal mail service to all Americans.