Postmaster General advocates for USPS autonomy, dismisses privatization proposals
New Postmaster General Steiner Embraces USPS Reform, Prioritizes Financial Stability and Service Improvement
David Steiner, the newly appointed Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS), has outlined his priorities for the agency, focusing on improving operational performance, maintaining USPS's independence, and addressing longstanding financial challenges.
Steiner, who began his tenure on Tuesday, has expressed his support for keeping USPS independent and avoiding privatization or federal appropriation. He believes that better operational performance will unlock strong long-term revenue growth. In line with this, USPS aims to improve on-time delivery, currently delivering about 85% of first-class mail on time, falling short of its 88% target.
However, the Postal Regulatory Commission warned in January that changes such as relaxing standards for on-time mail delivery wouldn't significantly help the agency regain its long-term financial footing, but could lead to "disproportionate" cuts in service across rural communities.
To address these challenges, Steiner emphasizes the need for USPS to be on a realistic path to match costs to revenues on a consistent, long-term basis. He has also defended the Postal Service's current independence from the executive branch, aligning with his belief in the agency's current structure as a self-financing, independent entity of the executive branch.
In a move to boost operational efficiency, USPS has eliminated contracts with FedEx to fly some of its mail volume across the country, focusing instead on ground transportation. This decision was made to cut costs and improve service delivery.
Congress passed legislation in 2022 that eliminated a mandate for USPS to prefund retiree health benefits, a move expected to save the agency $107 billion. Despite a rare net profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, USPS ended the second quarter with a $3.3 billion net loss and expects to end this fiscal year with a $6.9 billion net loss. The USPS still faces longstanding financial challenges and is under scrutiny by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency.
Meanwhile, efforts to implement identity security as both a defensive and offensive cybersecurity tactic are gaining momentum in the government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released updated final digital identity guidelines that support new identity proofing methods such as mobile driver's licenses for online use, helping to combat identity theft and fraud. The Biden administration is also prioritizing the adoption of zero-trust network architectures, which require verifying every user and device continuously, limiting lateral movement for attackers.
These measures are crucial in modern digital and operational environments, where advanced AI-driven threats are on the rise. Effective identity governance systems that unify and adapt controls in real time are crucial to mitigating AI-driven attacks that mimic human behavior and evade static, perimeter-based defenses. Offensive cybersecurity tactics, such as red team exercises and penetration testing, increasingly focus on identity systems and interconnected operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) environments.
In summary, Steiner's tenure at USPS marks a significant moment for the agency as it navigates financial challenges and seeks to improve service delivery. Meanwhile, the government's focus on identity security as a strategic enabler for offensive security testing and achieving a resilient zero trust architecture is set to shape cybersecurity practices in the coming years.
*[1] NIST Releases Updated Digital Identity Guidelines to Combat Identity Theft and Fraud (nist.gov)
*[2] Red Team Exercises and Penetration Testing: Enhancing Identity Security (whitehouse.gov)
*[3] Biden Administration Mandates Zero-Trust Adoption for Federal Agencies (whitehouse.gov)
*[4] Security Leaders Advocate for "Identity-First Security" Strategies (us-cert.gov)
*[5] Identity Security Critical to Mitigating AI-Driven Attacks in Hybrid Work Models (dhs.gov)
- The Postmaster General, Steiner, is prioritizing agency oversight to address USPS's longstanding financial challenges, such as improving operational efficiency and matching costs to revenues on a consistent basis.
- With the government's focus on identity security, the Postal Service might consider implementing measures like zero-trust network architectures and effective identity governance systems to safeguard against AI-driven threats in its modern digital and operational environments.
