United States Postal Service

<p>The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an <a href="/facts/Independent_agencies_of_the_United_States_government/XG5znCys">independent agency</a> of the executive branch of the <a href="/facts/Federal_government_of_the_United_States/VJCxUaf7">United States federal government</a> responsible for providing <a href="/facts/Mail/qF0nv7t9">postal service</a> in the United States, its <a href="/facts/Insular_area/k2gYE0dI">insular areas</a> and <a href="/facts/Compact_of_Free_Association/AyCyg8WC">associated states</a>. It is one of a few government agencies <a href="/facts/Postal_Clause/CnpLzIuw">explicitly authorized</a> by the <a href="/facts/Constitution_of_the_United_States/AJlEWNR3">Constitution of the United States</a>. As of March 29, 2024, the USPS has 525,377 career employees and nearly 114,623 pre-career employees.
</p><p>The USPS has a monopoly on traditional <a href="/facts/Letter_(message)/RCEkUoCd">letter</a> delivery within the U.S. and operates under a <a href="/facts/Universal_service/uLTLzAvB">universal service obligation</a> (USO), both of which are defined across a broad set of legal mandates, which obligate it to provide uniform price and quality across the entirety of its service area. The Post Office has exclusive access to <a href="/facts/Letter_box/MtzfjD0D">letter boxes</a> marked "U.S. Mail" and personal letterboxes in the U.S., but has to compete against private <a href="/facts/Package_delivery/gIIxYdgM">package delivery</a> services, such as <a href="/facts/United_Parcel_Service/CJw9VyGS">United Parcel Service</a>, <a href="/facts/FedEx/1NjvkXWW">FedEx</a>, and <a href="/facts/DHL/UoHyydxd">DHL</a>.
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United States Postal Service open-in-new

United States Postal Service