The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent agency of the Executive Branch of the United States government that delivers physical mail across the United States, to U.S. territories, and to military and diplomatic installations across the world. The USPS is the only delivery service that delivers to every U.S. mailbox. The USPS is responsible for personal/private deliveries, business deliveries, and government services such as passport applications or election mail.
The USPS was officially created in 1970 as a government-business hybrid by Congressional Act. In 1981, USPS stopped receiving tax-funds and became fully self-funded as the largest retail network. However, the government’s postal services originated in 1775 during the Second Continental Congress, with Benjamin Franklin serving as the first Postmaster General. As of July 2024, the current Postmaster General of the U.S. and Chief Executive Officer of USPS is Louis DeJoy. The USPS is led by the Board of Governors, 11 members total, who were appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Local Postmasters oversee the service and delivery of USPS in cities and smaller communities.
For more information, visit the USPS website. To find your local Postmaster, use the USPS Postmaster Finder.
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]