USPS

U.S. Postal Service: 250 Years of Delivering America

A Storied Legacy

Established in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) predates the United States and was critical in championing independence by delivering battle plans, newspapers, ballot materials and personal messages across the colonies . With Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General, USPS evolved into a federal institution via the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, becoming a self-financed agency servicing every address in the country—over 167 million delivery points—with no regular taxpayer subsidy .

Innovation Through the Ages

USPS pushed postal innovation forward: creating the ZIP Code system in 1963, adopting optical character recognition (OCR) in the 1960s for automated sorting, and integrating Intelligent Mail barcodes in the 2010s to boost automation accuracy to roughly 99.5%. In recent years, machine learning and AI have enhanced routing and scanning systems across its logistics network .Reform & Financial Strategy

Facing persistent losses—including $9.5 billion in 2024 and projected $6.9 billion in 2025—USPS launched the “Delivering for America” 10-year reform plan under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in 2021. It aimed to invest $40 billion in infrastructure and technology, expand parcel services, and stabilize finances through price adjustments and modernization efforts. The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 lifted some prefunding requirements for retiree benefits and expanded USPS’s authority to offer non-postal community services, helping alleviate financial constraints .

New service standards rolled out in phases on April 1 and July 1, 2025, providing 2–3 day delivery zones for local mail and package service. These changes are projected to help save at least $36 billion over the next decade through network optimization and center consolidations .

Fleet Modernization

USPS contracted Oshkosh Corporation for its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV), intended to replace aging Grumman LLVs. Though only 93 units had been delivered by late 2024, with approximately 250 electric variants by mid‑2025, delays marred early progress—casting doubt on widespread deployment of electric mail trucks under this program .

2025 Milestone: 250th Anniversary

On July 26, 2025, USPS celebrated its 250th anniversary with national events, a new pane of commemorative stamps titled “250 Years of Delivering” and a prestige booklet honoring Benjamin Franklin and postal carriers. The initiative highlights USPS as a chain of community, culture, and continuity over centuries .

Cost Increases & Rate Hikes

Consistent with its reform plan, USPS raised stamp prices yet again effective July 13, 2025: the First-Class Forever stamp increased from 73¢ to 78¢ (a 7.4% hike), marking the 20th USPS postage adjustment since 2000. Additional price hikes are scheduled for January and July of upcoming years to stabilize operations.

Services & Digital Innovations

USPS serves nearly 168 million addresses, delivering mail and parcels six days per week while offering innovations like Informed Delivery—a digital service allowing users to preview mail, track deliveries, and manage incoming items via email or the app—with strong adoption and satisfaction among millions of users .

USPS also launched new shipping services during the reform period: USPS Connect (June 2022), USPS Ground Advantage (July 2023), and Priority Next Day (March 2025), expanding its competitive footprint in parcel logistics. The agency processes up to 70 million packages daily as of September 2023, powered by 348 new sorting machines and 60 regional distribution centers .

How to Save When Mailing

For businesses and individuals seeking deals on shipping tools, packaging, and supplies, savvy shoppers can apply Scratchcoup discount coupon codes when purchasing stamps or postal supplies from The Postal Store®. These codes can offer extra savings on top of already reasonable pricing for stationery, media mail, or shipping supplies.

FAQs

Q1: Is USPS government-funded?
No—USPS is self-financed, operating through postage and product sales. It typically does not receive federal tax funding for its operations

Q2: Why are postage rates increasing in 2025?
As part of its Delivering for America plan, USPS is raising rates to generate needed revenue and fund infrastructure upgrades. In July 2025, the Forever stamp increased from 73¢ to 78¢, with further hikes planned in 2026 and 2027 .

Q3: What is Informed Delivery?
Informed Delivery is a USPS digital service allowing users to view scanned images of incoming mail and manage deliveries online or via email alerts. It is available across most ZIP Codes and is widely appreciated by users .

Q4: What are the new USPS shipping options?
Recent options include USPS Connect, USPS Ground Advantage, and Priority Next Day. These services provide faster and more reliable package delivery choices under the reform plan

Q5: Who is the current Postmaster General?
David Steiner assumed the role in early 2025, replacing Louis DeJoy. Steiner has reaffirmed USPS’s independent public mission and overseen strategic reform implementation, rejecting imminent privatization efforts despite speculation.

Q6: How is USPS celebrating its 250th anniversary?
USPS marked the milestone with new stamp releases, public events on July 23–26, themed post office signage, educational materials, and product offerings such as "250 Years of Delivering" stamps and commemorative booklets