USPS Service Slowdown Took Effect Friday
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plan to economize on mail service began Friday.
Starting Oct. 1, the United States Postal Service is now giving itself more time to deliver first-class mail. The changes are part of a reorganization called the Delivering for America Strategic Plan developed under DeJoy, an ally of former President Donald Trump.
Prior to Oct. 1, first-class parcel was expected to arrive within three days of mailing.
The agency now says the standard, going forward, is two to five days. Advocates of the plan say this should mean more truck travel and fewer costly flights on planes the USPS doesn’t own.
Analysis of USPS proposal data submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission indicates that 57 percent of first-class mail sent to Montana will take longer to arrive under the plan. The agency estimates that 61 percent of first-class mail and 93 percent of periodicals will be unaffected by the changes. USPS says anything within a three-hour drive of your mailing location should still arrive within two days.
People who are paying their bills by mail may not prepared for the change and could incur late fees, for instance. Others may face longer delivery times for important documents such as tax forms or passports.
For more information, visit about.usps.com/newsroom/ service-alerts/.
