USPS Posts $6.5 Billion Fiscal 2026 Net Loss: Revenue Rises to $82.9 Billion as It Seeks Reform and $2 Billion From Congress
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced its fiscal 2026 results in Washington on November 10 for the year ended September 30: a net loss of $6.5 billion, narrowing by $2.5 billion from the prior year's $9.0 billion loss. Operating revenue rose to $82.9 billion, up 3.0 percent from the prior year. Postmaster General David Steiner said the results show solid improvements in revenue generation, cost control and service performance, but that the Postal Service remains in a financial crisis and is seeking legislative action from Congress.
The smaller loss reflected a $2.4 billion increase in operating revenue, a $2.4 billion decrease in workers' compensation expense and a $277 million decrease in retirement expenses, partly offset by higher other operating, retiree health benefit, compensation and transportation costs. Total operating expenses were $89.4 billion, down 0.4 percent. The controllable loss, which excludes costs outside management's control, was $2.4 billion, compared with $2.7 billion a year earlier, an improvement of $344 million.
By category, Shipping and Packages revenue rose $1.7 billion, or 5.1 percent, on a volume decline of 359 million pieces, or 5.3 percent. Marketing Mail revenue rose $843 million, or 5.3 percent. First-Class Mail revenue rose $311 million, or 1.2 percent, on a volume decline of 2.2 billion pieces, or 5.1 percent. The Postal Service also cut 19 million work hours during the year and deferred about $2.6 billion in Federal Employees Retirement System normal cost contributions, payments it says will eventually have to be made and are not a long-term solution.
The Postal Service asked Congress for four reforms: raise its $15.0 billion statutory debt limit, set by Congress and not increased since 1992; modify the retiree pension funding rules; allow diversification of pension and retiree health assets into market-based instruments; and adopt private-sector best practices for workers' compensation administration. It also again asked Congress to eliminate uneconomical parts of its legislative business model or help fund them through modest appropriations. According to Reuters, Steiner also told the Postal Board of Governors on November 10 that the agency is seeking $2 billion in support and reimbursements from Congress, and warned that without action it would be forced to make significant cuts, starting with retail post offices and other service reductions.
Chief Financial Officer Luke Grossmann said the Postal Service will continue to do its part, but that its actions alone cannot resolve the challenges of an outdated business model, and that meaningful legislative, regulatory and administrative reforms are needed for long-term financial sustainability. (Source: U.S. Postal Service)
Source: U.S. Postal Service
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于华盛顿 L'Enfant Plaza 的美国邮政总部大楼。Tim1965 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Image: The U.S. Postal Service headquarters building at L'Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C. By Tim1965, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
