Trump’s Plan to Seize Control of USPS Sparks Legal Battle, Threatens Mail-In Voting

News
Alex Jane
March 4, 2025
10 minutes read

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Recent reports indicate that President Donald Trump is planning to dissolve the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, strip the agency of its independence, and place it under direct control of the Department of the Treasury. The move, which could pave the way for USPS privatization, is already being met with fierce resistance, as officials prepare for a legal battle over the potential policy shift.

In addition to legal concerns, voting rights advocates warn that Trump’s proposed overhaul could have devastating consequences for mail-in voting, a system used by millions of Americans in recent elections. “The move will likely be swiftly challenged as a violation of the Constitution and the Postal Reorganization Act, an almost 55-year-old law that states:

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‘The exercise of the power of the Postal Service shall be directed by a Board of Governors composed of 11 members,'” wrote Jacob Knutson for the voting-rights group Democracy Docket. “However, if the executive order is upheld by courts — or if Trump ignores court orders against it — he would have immense power over mail delivery.”

In such a scenario, Knutson warned, Trump could take actions to make mail-in voting significantly more difficult. “Trump has repeatedly said he’d like to end the practice, falsely claiming it allows for widespread fraud,” Knutson wrote.

Barbara Smith Warner, the executive director of the National Vote at Home Institute, echoed these concerns, cautioning that, “Taking over the Postal Service just kind of opens up a whole Pandora’s box of mischief.”

With the USPS board anticipating dismissal, its members have already retained legal counsel and are preparing to sue should Trump move forward with the executive order. Reports suggest that he is considering releasing the order imminently, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that could determine the future of the nation’s mail service and voting infrastructure.

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The potential consequences of Trump’s plan extend beyond USPS operations, raising alarms over the broader implications for democratic participation. As legal experts and voting rights advocates brace for the unfolding conflict, the fate of the Postal Service remains uncertain, with millions of Americans relying on its services for everything from essential deliveries to casting their ballots.