Dear John,
Donald Trump is attempting an illegal power grab at the United States Postal Service, blatantly ignoring the law in order to seize control. He has announced plans to fire the entire independent Postal Board of Governors and place the USPS under the direct control of billionaire Trump donor Howard Lutnick, who is now serving as Secretary of Commerce.
Trump himself described this unprecedented arrangement as a “type of merger” – but that is complete bunk! The Postal Service is not a business to be “merged,” and it does not answer to the White House. It is a public institution that belongs to the American people, not to Trump.
This move is not only unconstitutional – it is blatantly illegal.
In 1970, Congress specifically removed the Postal Service from presidential control when it passed the Postal Reorganization Act. This law created the USPS Board of Governors as an independent body. For Trump to ignore this law altogether and treat the Postal Service as if it were his to command however he likes is no accident.
Intending to set a precedent, Trump is intentionally ignoring the law in order to prove the law is of no significance to him. At this point in his return to power, fully immunized from criminal liability by the Supreme Court for his “official actions,” he has come to see himself as the law.
The Postal Board of Governors now must play a significant role in preventing the United States’ slide into totalitarianism. Put simply, they must reject this unlawful order, refuse to step down, and fight back against Trump’s illegal takeover.
Send a direct message to the Postal Board of Governors to demand that they refuse to cooperate with Trump’s blatantly illegal move to fire them. Not only is the future of the USPS at stake, but also the rule of law under the Constitution.
If Trump succeeds in dismantling the USPS Board of Governors, the consequences will be devastating:
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640,000 postal workers, including 73,000 veterans, could see their jobs put at risk.
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Seniors, rural communities, and working Americans will face delays or outright loss of essential mail – including medications, Social Security checks, and ballots.
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This move paves the way for the privatization of the Postal Service – chopping it up, selling it off, and prioritizing profit over public service.
The Postal Service is not Trump’s to control. It is an independent, self-funded agency that serves every American, regardless of income or location.
Our combined action has succeeded in stopping Trump’s attacks on the Postal Service before – from his initial privatization attempts in 2018, to his sabotage of the USPS before the 2020 election. Now, we must do it again. Join the coalition of labor unions, veterans, voting rights advocates, civil rights groups, and grassroots activists and take action.
Send a message to the Postal Board of Governors: Refuse Trump’s illegal order! Stand your ground and protect the Postal Service from this unconstitutional takeover now.
Thank you for helping to protect the United States Postal Service from Donald Trump’s unconstitutional and illegal scheme.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
