Departments & agenciesView all actions on the Federal Register
United States Postal Service
Gov. corporationsFor-cause removalSelf-funded
At a glance
Type
Government corporations
Removal of leadership
Removable only for cause
Appointed by
Board appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate
Structure
11-member board · led by the Postmaster General
Term
7-year term · staggered · party-balanced
Funding
Outside annual appropriations
Independence
Most insulated
39 U.S.C. 202 provides that the 9 Governors may be removed 'only for cause.' This for-cause protection rests on the Humphrey's Executor doctrine, which is under active challenge at the Supreme Court in the 2025-2026 term (e.g., Trump v. Slaughter re: the FTC; Trump v. Cook re: the Federal Reserve). No ruling has specifically stripped USPS Governors' protection as of mid-2026, but the doctrine is contested.
What it does
The U.S. Postal Service is a self-supporting independent establishment of the executive branch that provides mail and package delivery to every U.S. address. Governance is vested in an 11-member Board of Governors, with day-to-day operations led by the Postmaster General. It is funded mainly by postage and service fees rather than tax dollars, and serves all individuals, businesses, and government users nationwide.
CommunicationsTransportation
How it fits
Created by Congress under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-375, 84 Stat. 719; codified at 39 U.S.C. (esp. 39 U.S.C. 201-202)), it acts within the authority that statute grants. Its actions are subject to judicial review and to congressional oversight and funding.
Recent actions
Transfer of Inbound PRIME Registered Service Agreement 1 and PRIME-USPS Registered Agreement to the Market Dominant Product List
International Product Change-Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International & First-Class Package International Service Agreement
Product Change-Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements; Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures
Product Change-Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements; Priority Mail Negotiated Service Agreements
International Product Change-Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International & First-Class Package International Service Agreements
Product Change-Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements
Product Change-Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements; Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage Negotiated Service Agreements