US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigned from his position on Monday (Mar 24). This comes amid Trump administration's hint of privatising the postal service. This is one among the many changes Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has suggested. DOGE has been looking at cost-cutting meticulously with that targeting government portfolios.&nbsp;
DeJoy in his statement wrote, "After nearly five years as America&rsquo;s 75th Postmaster General and after informing the Governors in February of my intention to retire, I have today informed the Postal Service Board of Governors that today will be my last day in this role."
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He added, "It is with great pride that I pass the baton to Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino until the governors name my permanent successor. The governors have hired a search firm in support of those efforts, which are well underway."
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Stating his confidence in his deputy, he wrote, "I am confident that Doug will continue our positive momentum during the period when the governors undertake the important work of identifying and selecting the next Postmaster General."
He added, "I also have no doubt that the entirety of the Postal Service will aggressively shape its future and become more efficient, capable, and competitive as it continuously changes and improves to best serve the American public."
DeJoy vowed to 'cheer on the 76th Postmaster General and the 640,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service'. With gratitude, the USPS chief said he will cherish the memories he shared with his colleagues for life. He calls it 'crowning achievement of my career to have been associated with this cherished institution.'
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US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigned from his position on Monday (Mar 24). This comes amid Trump administration's hint of privatising the postal service. World news

US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigned from his position on Monday (Mar 24). This comes amid Trump administration's hint of privatising the postal service. This is one among the many changes Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has suggested. DOGE has been looking at cost-cutting meticulously with that targeting government portfolios. DeJoy in his statement wrote, "After nearly five years as America’s 75th Postmaster General and after informing the Governors in February of my intention to retire, I have today informed the Postal Service Board of Governors that today will be my last day in this role." Also read: 'Optimus to colonise Red planet': Elon Musk to launch SpaceX's Mars mission by next year He added, "It is with great pride that I pass the baton to Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino until the governors name my permanent successor. The governors have hired a search firm in support of those efforts, which are well underway." Also read: Columbia University student, permanent US resident, sues Trump administration for trying to deport her Stating his confidence in his deputy, he wrote, "I am confident that Doug will continue our positive momentum during the period when the governors undertake the important work of identifying and selecting the next Postmaster General." He added, "I also have no doubt that the entirety of the Postal Service will aggressively shape its future and become more efficient, capable, and competitive as it continuously changes and improves to best serve the American public." DeJoy vowed to 'cheer on the 76th Postmaster General and the 640,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service'. With gratitude, the USPS chief said he will cherish the memories he shared with his colleagues for life. He calls it 'crowning achievement of my career to have been associated with this cherished institution.'

Is this how Trump is 'making America great again? US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigns 'with great pride'

United States President-elect Donald Trump is interested in privatising the US Postal Service, which has lost $100 billion since 2007, the Washington Post reported on Saturday (Dec 14).&nbsp;

The organisation reported a net loss of $9.5 billion at the end of its fiscal year on September 30. This fiscal year's loss was $3 billion more than the last one.&nbsp;

The Post further reported that when Trump was told about the organisation's annual losses, he said the government should not subsidise it. The Republican discussed his interest in privatising the organisation with his commerce secretary pick &nbsp;Howard Lutnick.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Will Biden Invoke Pre-Emptive Pardons? Bill Clinton Reacts

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/will-biden-invoke-pre-emptive-pardons-bill-clinton-reacts-784034/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report further highlighted that people who had chosen to work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, also had conversations about major changes in the USPS.&nbsp;

A USPS spokesperson told news agency Reuters that for more than three years, the organisation has reduced its operation by 45 million work hours.&nbsp;

The agency is also seeking regulatory approval to modernise its mail processing and transportation network to align with modern practices, which will save between $3.6-$3.7 billion annually, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Any attempt at privatising the Postal Service could disrupt the e-commerce industry in the US, Washington Post said, including Amazon, which uses USPS for "last-mile" delivery between Amazon's fulfilment centres and customers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-invited-chinese-spy-to-buckingham-palace-report-784042">Prince Andrew invited 'Chinese spy' to Buckingham Palace: Report</a>

This came following reports that Amazon is donating $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million.&nbsp;

Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12).&nbsp;

Trump has criticised the Washington Post (owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President-elect Donald Trump is interested in privatising the US Postal Service, which has lost $100 billion since 2007, the Washington Post reported on Saturday (Dec 14).

United States President-elect Donald Trump is interested in privatising the US Postal Service, which has lost $100 billion since 2007, the Washington Post reported on Saturday (Dec 14). The organisation reported a net loss of $9.5 billion at the end of its fiscal year on September 30. This fiscal year's loss was $3 billion more than the last one. The Post further reported that when Trump was told about the organisation's annual losses, he said the government should not subsidise it. The Republican discussed his interest in privatising the organisation with his commerce secretary pick Howard Lutnick. Watch | Will Biden Invoke Pre-Emptive Pardons? Bill Clinton Reacts The report further highlighted that people who had chosen to work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, also had conversations about major changes in the USPS. A USPS spokesperson told news agency Reuters that for more than three years, the organisation has reduced its operation by 45 million work hours. The agency is also seeking regulatory approval to modernise its mail processing and transportation network to align with modern practices, which will save between $3.6-$3.7 billion annually, Reuters reported. Any attempt at privatising the Postal Service could disrupt the e-commerce industry in the US, Washington Post said, including Amazon, which uses USPS for "last-mile" delivery between Amazon's fulfilment centres and customers. Also read | Prince Andrew invited 'Chinese spy' to Buckingham Palace: Report This came following reports that Amazon is donating $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million. Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12). Trump has criticised the Washington Post (owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House. (With inputs from agencies)

President-elect Donald Trump may privatise US Postal Service: Report

Washington DC, United States
United States President-elect Donald Trump is interested in privatising the US Postal Service, which has lost $100 billion since 2007, the Washington Post reported on Saturday (Dec 14). 
The organisation reported a net loss of $9.5 billion at the end of its fiscal year on September 30. This fiscal year's loss was $3 billion more than the last one. 
The Post further reported that when Trump was told about the organisation's annual losses, he said the government should not subsidise it. The Republican discussed his interest in privatising the organisation with his commerce secretary pick  Howard Lutnick. 
Watch | Will Biden Invoke Pre-Emptive Pardons? Bill Clinton Reacts
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/12/14/1412_Biden_full_8pm_pkwo-1734193218-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1412_Biden_full_8pm_pkwo_.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=330&tags=WION,wion news,World News,world news latest,viral" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
The report further highlighted that people who had chosen to work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, also had conversations about major changes in the USPS. 
A USPS spokesperson told news agency Reuters that for more than three years, the organisation has reduced its operation by 45 million work hours. 
The agency is also seeking regulatory approval to modernise its mail processing and transportation network to align with modern practices, which will save between $3.6-$3.7 billion annually, Reuters reported. 
Any attempt at privatising the Postal Service could disrupt the e-commerce industry in the US, Washington Post said, including Amazon, which uses USPS for "last-mile" delivery between Amazon's fulfilment centres and customers.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-andrew-invited-chinese-spy-to-buckingham-palace-report-784042">Prince Andrew invited 'Chinese spy' to Buckingham Palace: Report</a>
This came following reports that Amazon is donating $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million. 
Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12). 
Trump has criticised the Washington Post (owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House.
(With inputs from agencies)

The Post further reported that when Trump was told about the organisation's annual losses, he said the government should not subsidise it. The Republican discussed his interest in privatising the organisation with his commerce secretary pick Howard Lutnick. 



Washington DC, United States United States President-elect Donald Trump is interested in privatising the US Postal Service, which has lost $100 billion since 2007, the Washington Post reported on Saturday (Dec 14). The organisation reported a net loss of $9.5 billion at the end of its fiscal year on September 30. This fiscal year's loss was $3 billion more than the last one. The Post further reported that when Trump was told about the organisation's annual losses, he said the government should not subsidise it. The Republican discussed his interest in privatising the organisation with his commerce secretary pick Howard Lutnick. Watch | Will Biden Invoke Pre-Emptive Pardons? Bill Clinton Reacts The report further highlighted that people who had chosen to work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, also had conversations about major changes in the USPS. A USPS spokesperson told news agency Reuters that for more than three years, the organisation has reduced its operation by 45 million work hours. The agency is also seeking regulatory approval to modernise its mail processing and transportation network to align with modern practices, which will save between $3.6-$3.7 billion annually, Reuters reported. Any attempt at privatising the Postal Service could disrupt the e-commerce industry in the US, Washington Post said, including Amazon, which uses USPS for "last-mile" delivery between Amazon's fulfilment centres and customers. Also read | Prince Andrew invited 'Chinese spy' to Buckingham Palace: Report This came following reports that Amazon is donating $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. The company will also air the event on Prime Video, an Amazon spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 12). The Wall Street Journal reported that Prime Video will be an in-kind donation worth another $1 million. Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos is expected to meet the Republican leader next week, Trump said in his interview with CNBC on Thursday (Dec 12). Trump has criticised the Washington Post (owned by Bezos) for its coverage during his first term in the White House. (With inputs from agencies)

William Pietri, a software engineer in San Francisco, put careful thought into his Christmas box for his family in Michigan, jamming it with tastes from around the world and other gifts: Indonesian ginger candy, Mexican saladitos con chile, Korean honey butter almonds, a puzzle that was almost impossible to find.

But about three months later, the package has never arrived. According to the U.S. Postal Service, it is still “in transit, arriving late.”

Pietri, 51, is left to guess at the cause. The coronavirus pandemic? The politicization of the Postal Service under former President Donald Trump? “Well-informed delays, I would be happy with, but this great mystery is deeply frustrating,” he said.

Months after an election that thrust problems at the Postal Service into the national glare, the beleaguered agency has failed to restore its target delivery times. In mid-December — awash in Christmas and New Year’s greetings — the agency delivered as little as 62% of first-class mail on time, the lowest level in years, according to Postal Service data. The rate had rebounded to 84% by the week of March 6, but remained far below the agency’s target of about 96%.

“It hasn’t really gotten better as much as we would have hoped at this point,” said Dave Lewis, the president of SnailWorks, a company that tracks commercial mail and has found that delivery now takes four to five days, after years of averaging 3.5. “It just seems that the Postal Service just hasn’t come to grips with this and hasn’t been able to dig themselves out of it yet from the problems they had in December.”

The delays are compounding problems at a venerable American institution already teetering under widening financial losses, polarizing leadership and questions about what the Biden administration will — or even can — do to right the ship. And they may be a precursor of even worse delays to come as the Postal Service reaches a potential inflection point: The agency cannot fix its finances without addressing its service problems, and it cannot address its service problems without fixing its finances.

Already the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, is completing a soon-to-be-released plan to stabilize the agency’s finances over 10 years that is expected to prioritize reliability and cost effectiveness over speed. In part, that could mean people like Pietri no longer find their Christmas gifts lost in transit, but it almost certainly would slow the delivery of some mail even further.

DeJoy’s report is expected to propose eliminating the use of planes for the first-class mail service to transport letters and other flat mail in the contiguous United States, according to someone familiar with the planning. It is also expected to propose lengthening the agency’s standard delivery time for first-class mail, which includes many envelopes and lightweight packages, from within three days to within five days.

Among other ideas under consideration: shuttering processing facilities and reducing some post office hours. DeJoy told lawmakers last month that price increases would also be part of the strategy. The plan is part of a concerted effort by the agency to shift its resources to shipping packages, which have become a growing share of its business as traditional mail volumes have declined.

The plan, some details of which were reported earlier by The Washington Post, aims to address longer-term problems at the agency. Although recent months have been particularly dire, the Postal Service has not met its mail delivery service standards for more than eight years.

The proposal is almost certain to prompt resistance from the Democrats who control Congress and the White House, but it is also unclear what they will do about it.

DeJoy, a former logistics executive and Trump megadonor, had already drawn Democrats’ wrath when slowdowns began last year as he instituted operational changes during an election year with a historic influx of mail-in ballots. But President Joe Biden cannot directly fire him. Instead, his fate rests with the Postal Service Board of Governors, minus DeJoy himself, composed entirely of Trump appointees.

Some Democrats have called for Biden to fire all of the governors, and though he may have the legal authority to do so, the president has shown little appetite for such a drastic move after repeatedly criticizing his predecessor for norm-breaking firings across the government. He has nominated three new governors for open spots, but the board does not intend to wait for the confirmation of Biden’s picks to complete its 10-year plan.

The Postal Service has blamed the pandemic and a record holiday peak season for much of the poor service performance. David Partenheimer, a spokesperson for the agency, emphasized that the pandemic had contributed to an industrywide shortage of air cargo capacity, and that for the Postal Service, which does not operate or own planes, air transportation is less reliable and more expensive than ground transportation. He would not comment on the contents of the plan beyond that it would include a review of current delivery service standards.

“Our forthcoming plan to achieve service excellence and financial sustainability for the U.S. Postal Service is designed to strengthen our public service mission,” Partenheimer said in an email early this month. “We will share the final plan’s details in the coming weeks.”

DeJoy has repeatedly stressed the need to improve the Postal Service’s financial status, which has grown increasingly dire as the use of its most profitable product — first-class mail — continues to decline.

In the past 14 fiscal years, the Postal Service has lost $87 billion, including $9.2 billion in the 2020 fiscal year alone, and expects to lose $9.7 billion in 2021. The agency, which is expected to be self-sustaining, “cannot fund its current level of services and financial obligations from its revenues,” the Government Accountability Office said in a report naming the Postal Service to its “high risk” financial list. In July, the service reached an agreement with the Treasury Department on a $10 billion loan as part of a coronavirus relief bill.

But critics question why the postmaster general would slow mail delivery when the agency is already struggling to deliver mail on time and no current members of the Board of Governors have extensive experience at the agency. Michael Plunkett, the president of the Association for Postal Commerce, which represents businesses and organizations that are postal customers, called the proposals as well as efforts to increase prices “a shortsighted and imprudent step by postal management” with service already lagging and a poor economy.

Mark Diamondstein, the president of the American Postal Workers Union, said his group, among the largest Postal Service unions, had not been asked to consult on the 10-year plan as of early this month. The Board of Governors appears to have “no interest” in his union’s input, he said.

With the election over, the Postal Service is no longer encumbered by court orders that limited its ability to institute major operational changes or forced it to disclose on-time delivery rates while ballots passed through its network.

But plenty of customers report delays. Laura Nelson Selinsky, a teacher from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, said a Christmas card sent on Dec. 11 did not arrive until the middle of January. And even though her husband received a prescription by mail a month late, she said she worried more about how the delays could affect her students at a small private school that specializes in learning disabilities.

In December, she sent packages of goodies to the 12th graders in her British literature class who were reading “Macbeth.” Among those included: Renaissance-era snacks, plastic swords, scripts, headdresses and a chain mail coif, all so the students could act out the play, she said.

But one student did not receive any materials until the unit was largely complete.

“This is such a small thing, to be able to go to the post office and you spend $70 on materials, on priority mailing materials, to students because you really want them to have it for this special event, and you really can’t count on them being there,” Nelson Selinsky said. The Postal Service is “a thing that we should be able to count on, and we just can’t.”

Occasionally, the delays can be a matter of life and death. Naya, a cat with big sage eyes found dumped in a Corona beer box, had a disease caused by a kind of fatal, feline coronavirus treatable only by a drug sold through “the underground cat railroad,” said Daniela Stolfi-Tow, who volunteers for a cat rescue group in Hawaii. They call her the “corona kitten,” she added.

When Stolfi-Tow ordered medication, it was held up in New York and never arrived. The symptoms became apparent: Naya started to lose the ability to walk straight, jerking and falling over.

Stolfi-Tow ordered another shipment held up in California that never arrived, and was preparing to get on a plane herself to pick up the medication. But finally, a third order arrived. It was sent through FedEx.

“I just cried. I was just like, ‘Oh, my God, you saved her life,’ ” she said. “It’s appalling to me that the government has not stepped in and said, ‘Hey, get it together or stop taking packages until you can deal with whatever the problem is.’ ”

William Pietri, a software engineer in San Francisco, put careful thought into his Christmas box for his family in Michigan, jamming it with tastes from around the world and other gifts: Indonesian ginger candy, Mexican saladitos con chile, Korean honey butter almonds, a puzzle that was almost impossible to find.

William Pietri, a software engineer in San Francisco, put careful thought into his Christmas box for his family in Michigan, jamming it with tastes from around the world and other gifts: Indonesian ginger candy, Mexican saladitos con chile, Korean honey butter almonds, a puzzle that was almost impossible to find. But about three months later, the package has never arrived. According to the U.S. Postal Service, it is still “in transit, arriving late.” Pietri, 51, is left to guess at the cause. The coronavirus pandemic? The politicization of the Postal Service under former President Donald Trump? “Well-informed delays, I would be happy with, but this great mystery is deeply frustrating,” he said. Months after an election that thrust problems at the Postal Service into the national glare, the beleaguered agency has failed to restore its target delivery times. In mid-December — awash in Christmas and New Year’s greetings — the agency delivered as little as 62% of first-class mail on time, the lowest level in years, according to Postal Service data. The rate had rebounded to 84% by the week of March 6, but remained far below the agency’s target of about 96%. “It hasn’t really gotten better as much as we would have hoped at this point,” said Dave Lewis, the president of SnailWorks, a company that tracks commercial mail and has found that delivery now takes four to five days, after years of averaging 3.5. “It just seems that the Postal Service just hasn’t come to grips with this and hasn’t been able to dig themselves out of it yet from the problems they had in December.” The delays are compounding problems at a venerable American institution already teetering under widening financial losses, polarizing leadership and questions about what the Biden administration will — or even can — do to right the ship. And they may be a precursor of even worse delays to come as the Postal Service reaches a potential inflection point: The agency cannot fix its finances without addressing its service problems, and it cannot address its service problems without fixing its finances. Already the postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, is completing a soon-to-be-released plan to stabilize the agency’s finances over 10 years that is expected to prioritize reliability and cost effectiveness over speed. In part, that could mean people like Pietri no longer find their Christmas gifts lost in transit, but it almost certainly would slow the delivery of some mail even further. DeJoy’s report is expected to propose eliminating the use of planes for the first-class mail service to transport letters and other flat mail in the contiguous United States, according to someone familiar with the planning. It is also expected to propose lengthening the agency’s standard delivery time for first-class mail, which includes many envelopes and lightweight packages, from within three days to within five days. Among other ideas under consideration: shuttering processing facilities and reducing some post office hours. DeJoy told lawmakers last month that price increases would also be part of the strategy. The plan is part of a concerted effort by the agency to shift its resources to shipping packages, which have become a growing share of its business as traditional mail volumes have declined. The plan, some details of which were reported earlier by The Washington Post, aims to address longer-term problems at the agency. Although recent months have been particularly dire, the Postal Service has not met its mail delivery service standards for more than eight years. The proposal is almost certain to prompt resistance from the Democrats who control Congress and the White House, but it is also unclear what they will do about it. DeJoy, a former logistics executive and Trump megadonor, had already drawn Democrats’ wrath when slowdowns began last year as he instituted operational changes during an election year with a historic influx of mail-in ballots. But President Joe Biden cannot directly fire him. Instead, his fate rests with the Postal Service Board of Governors, minus DeJoy himself, composed entirely of Trump appointees. Some Democrats have called for Biden to fire all of the governors, and though he may have the legal authority to do so, the president has shown little appetite for such a drastic move after repeatedly criticizing his predecessor for norm-breaking firings across the government. He has nominated three new governors for open spots, but the board does not intend to wait for the confirmation of Biden’s picks to complete its 10-year plan. The Postal Service has blamed the pandemic and a record holiday peak season for much of the poor service performance. David Partenheimer, a spokesperson for the agency, emphasized that the pandemic had contributed to an industrywide shortage of air cargo capacity, and that for the Postal Service, which does not operate or own planes, air transportation is less reliable and more expensive than ground transportation. He would not comment on the contents of the plan beyond that it would include a review of current delivery service standards. “Our forthcoming plan to achieve service excellence and financial sustainability for the U.S. Postal Service is designed to strengthen our public service mission,” Partenheimer said in an email early this month. “We will share the final plan’s details in the coming weeks.” DeJoy has repeatedly stressed the need to improve the Postal Service’s financial status, which has grown increasingly dire as the use of its most profitable product — first-class mail — continues to decline. In the past 14 fiscal years, the Postal Service has lost $87 billion, including $9.2 billion in the 2020 fiscal year alone, and expects to lose $9.7 billion in 2021. The agency, which is expected to be self-sustaining, “cannot fund its current level of services and financial obligations from its revenues,” the Government Accountability Office said in a report naming the Postal Service to its “high risk” financial list. In July, the service reached an agreement with the Treasury Department on a $10 billion loan as part of a coronavirus relief bill. But critics question why the postmaster general would slow mail delivery when the agency is already struggling to deliver mail on time and no current members of the Board of Governors have extensive experience at the agency. Michael Plunkett, the president of the Association for Postal Commerce, which represents businesses and organizations that are postal customers, called the proposals as well as efforts to increase prices “a shortsighted and imprudent step by postal management” with service already lagging and a poor economy. Mark Diamondstein, the president of the American Postal Workers Union, said his group, among the largest Postal Service unions, had not been asked to consult on the 10-year plan as of early this month. The Board of Governors appears to have “no interest” in his union’s input, he said. With the election over, the Postal Service is no longer encumbered by court orders that limited its ability to institute major operational changes or forced it to disclose on-time delivery rates while ballots passed through its network. But plenty of customers report delays. Laura Nelson Selinsky, a teacher from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, said a Christmas card sent on Dec. 11 did not arrive until the middle of January. And even though her husband received a prescription by mail a month late, she said she worried more about how the delays could affect her students at a small private school that specializes in learning disabilities. In December, she sent packages of goodies to the 12th graders in her British literature class who were reading “Macbeth.” Among those included: Renaissance-era snacks, plastic swords, scripts, headdresses and a chain mail coif, all so the students could act out the play, she said. But one student did not receive any materials until the unit was largely complete. “This is such a small thing, to be able to go to the post office and you spend $70 on materials, on priority mailing materials, to students because you really want them to have it for this special event, and you really can’t count on them being there,” Nelson Selinsky said. The Postal Service is “a thing that we should be able to count on, and we just can’t.” Occasionally, the delays can be a matter of life and death. Naya, a cat with big sage eyes found dumped in a Corona beer box, had a disease caused by a kind of fatal, feline coronavirus treatable only by a drug sold through “the underground cat railroad,” said Daniela Stolfi-Tow, who volunteers for a cat rescue group in Hawaii. They call her the “corona kitten,” she added. When Stolfi-Tow ordered medication, it was held up in New York and never arrived. The symptoms became apparent: Naya started to lose the ability to walk straight, jerking and falling over. Stolfi-Tow ordered another shipment held up in California that never arrived, and was preparing to get on a plane herself to pick up the medication. But finally, a third order arrived. It was sent through FedEx. “I just cried. I was just like, ‘Oh, my God, you saved her life,’ ” she said. “It’s appalling to me that the government has not stepped in and said, ‘Hey, get it together or stop taking packages until you can deal with whatever the problem is.’ ”

Postal service struggles to speed up delivery, compounding its troubles

Founded in 1775, the United States postal services are a lifeline for Americans, but in the recent past it has taken over all news headlines & campaigning rallies in the US. Watch the video to know more.

What is United States Postal Service?

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives has approved a legislation to&nbsp;provide the cash-strapped Postal Service with $25 billion and block policy changes that have stirred concerns about mail-in balloting ahead of the November 3 election.

The Saturday bill was passed 257-150, largely along party lines, with Democrats supporting it -- defying President Donald Trump, who actively urged Republicans to oppose it.

The vote sent the legislation dubbed the "Delivering for America Act" on to the Republican-controlled Senate.

The Republican-held Senate is unlikely to vote on it -- and hence, the matter won't reach Trump's desk.

The White House also strongly opposes the legislation and has said it would recommend that President Donald Trump veto the measure.

But more than two-dozen House Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in approving the bill, during a rare Saturday session called by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the middle of the congressional August recess. She&nbsp;had predicted bipartisan support for the USPS legislation ahead of the vote.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-may-never-get-election-results-trump-warns-against-vote-count-322329">Also read |&nbsp;You may never get election results: Trump warns against vote count</a>

With mail-in voting expected to surge during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has alarmed Democrats by repeatedly denouncing mail-in ballots as a possible source of fraud. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently suspended cost-cutting measures that have slowed deliveries in recent weeks.

Democrats, who accuse Trump of trying to discourage mail-in balloting to gain an electoral advantage over Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, cast themselves as defenders of a public that relies on the Postal Service for vital deliveries, including prescription drugs.

The fight over the postal service is unfolding as Democrats and the Trump administration have not yet come together to successfully negotiate a new stimulus bill.

Democratic leaders introduced the measure after the Trump administration made policy changes at the USPS. Those moves included cutting overtime for employees, limiting post office hours, and removing some high-volume mail sorting machines from USPS facilities.&nbsp;

As lawmakers prepared to vote, Trump took to Twitter to accuse Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of seeking unnecessary funding for the Postal Service and trying to pull off a "Universal Mail-In Ballot Scam."

"Vote NO to the Pelosi/Schumer money wasting HOAX which is taking place now," the president wrote.

US Postmaster Louis DeJoy told a Senate committee on Friday that the Postal Service would deliver ballots "securely and on time" in the November election but said bigger changes could come after that.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-postmaster-promises-timely-election-mail-dramatic-changes-after-322341">Also read |&nbsp;US postmaster promises timely election mail, 'dramatic' changes after</a>

In fact, the House bill would prevent DeJoy from taking any action that would impede service until after next January or the end of the coronavirus health emergency, whichever comes later.

Pelosi insisted that congressional action is necessary, calling DeJoy's assurances ambiguous and unsatisfactory.&nbsp;

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives has approved a legislation to provide the cash-strapped Postal Service with $25 billion and block policy changes that have stirred concerns about mail-in balloting ahead of the November 3 election.

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives has approved a legislation to provide the cash-strapped Postal Service with $25 billion and block policy changes that have stirred concerns about mail-in balloting ahead of the November 3 election. The Saturday bill was passed 257-150, largely along party lines, with Democrats supporting it -- defying President Donald Trump, who actively urged Republicans to oppose it. The vote sent the legislation dubbed the "Delivering for America Act" on to the Republican-controlled Senate. The Republican-held Senate is unlikely to vote on it -- and hence, the matter won't reach Trump's desk. The White House also strongly opposes the legislation and has said it would recommend that President Donald Trump veto the measure. But more than two-dozen House Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in approving the bill, during a rare Saturday session called by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the middle of the congressional August recess. She had predicted bipartisan support for the USPS legislation ahead of the vote. Also read | You may never get election results: Trump warns against vote count With mail-in voting expected to surge during the coronavirus pandemic, Trump has alarmed Democrats by repeatedly denouncing mail-in ballots as a possible source of fraud. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently suspended cost-cutting measures that have slowed deliveries in recent weeks. Democrats, who accuse Trump of trying to discourage mail-in balloting to gain an electoral advantage over Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, cast themselves as defenders of a public that relies on the Postal Service for vital deliveries, including prescription drugs. The fight over the postal service is unfolding as Democrats and the Trump administration have not yet come together to successfully negotiate a new stimulus bill. Democratic leaders introduced the measure after the Trump administration made policy changes at the USPS. Those moves included cutting overtime for employees, limiting post office hours, and removing some high-volume mail sorting machines from USPS facilities. As lawmakers prepared to vote, Trump took to Twitter to accuse Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of seeking unnecessary funding for the Postal Service and trying to pull off a "Universal Mail-In Ballot Scam." "Vote NO to the Pelosi/Schumer money wasting HOAX which is taking place now," the president wrote. US Postmaster Louis DeJoy told a Senate committee on Friday that the Postal Service would deliver ballots "securely and on time" in the November election but said bigger changes could come after that. Also read | US postmaster promises timely election mail, 'dramatic' changes after In fact, the House bill would prevent DeJoy from taking any action that would impede service until after next January or the end of the coronavirus health emergency, whichever comes later. Pelosi insisted that congressional action is necessary, calling DeJoy's assurances ambiguous and unsatisfactory.

US House approves bill to send $25 billion to Postal Service and block policy changes

The United States Postal Service is popularly known for delivering mail despite snow, rain or heat, but it faces a new foe in President Donald Trump.

Ahead of the November 3 elections in which millions of voters are expected to cast ballots by mail due to the coronavirus, Trump has leveled an unprecedented attack at the USPS, opposing efforts to give the cash-strapped agency more money even as changes there have caused widespread delays in delivering letters and packages.

"They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump told Fox News on Thursday, calling the money "fraudulent."

"But if they don't get those... that means you can't have universal mail-in voting."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-speaker-considering-recalling-congress-over-post-office-woes-320879">Also read:&nbsp;US House Speaker considering recalling Congress over Post Office woes</a>

On Saturday, Trump continued his assault on mail-in voting by telling reporters it would be a "catastrophe" and retweeting articles and comments alleging fraud.

The Democratic opposition has sharply condemned Trump's statements, with some lawmakers claiming that the president is plotting to snarl the post office to undermine voting, create uncertainty and win a second term.

"Pure Trump. He doesn't want an election," said Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, tweeted: "We cannot let Donald Trump destroy the United States Postal Service."

Trump, asked by a reporter Saturday if he was trying to hobble the USPS, replied: "No, not at all."

But the concerns are unlikely to disappear.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-postal-service-watchdog-to-probe-service-woes-as-worries-rise-about-mail-ballots-320620">Also read:&nbsp;US Postal Service watchdog to probe service woes as worries rise about mail ballots</a>

Reflecting the escalating nature of the controversy, former president Barack Obama has also weighed in.

"What we've never seen before is a president say, 'I'm going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service ... and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it,'" Obama said in a podcast with a former aide.

On Saturday, protesters gathered at the Washington home of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, blaring horns and banging pots in anger.

USPS spokesman David Partenheimer attributed changes at the agency to its poor financial state.

"We are not slowing down election mail or any other mail," he told AFP.

"The Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model," he explained.

"We face an impending liquidity crisis," Partenheimer said, calling on Congress and regulators to enact reforms.

Meanwhile, in Congress... 
The postal troubles come as Congress remains deadlocked over a new stimulus bill to follow the $2.2 trillion CARES Act package passed in March as the coronavirus crisis erupted.

Democrats have proposed giving the USPS billions of dollars in funding, and Trump -- after first saying he opposed that -- said Friday that perhaps some new funds could be included in a compromise.&nbsp;

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On Saturday he blamed the Democrats again, telling reporters they "aren't approving proper funding for postal, and they're not approving the proper funding for this ridiculous thing that they want to do which is all mail-in voting."

"You're right, there has to be more resources, I agree," he said. &nbsp;

Trump said candidly in April that mail-in voting "doesn't work out well for Republicans" and has repeatedly described such ballots as prone to fraud.

Experts disagree.&nbsp;

A study this year by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice found that "it is... more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud."

In an interview, American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein blamed the nationwide slowdowns in mail deliveries on measures implemented by DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser appointed by Trump who took office in June and pledged to reform the agency.

Dimondstein said overtime has recently been reduced, meaning carriers leave distribution centers immediately rather than wait 10 or 15 minutes for delayed mail, as they previously did.

That, combined with the around 40,000 workers who have had to quarantine since March because of COVID-19, has created delays.

DeJoy -- defended by Trump as a "fantastic man" -- has "arbitrarily reduced hours of work of the employees, but the same work is still there to get done," Dimondstein said.

States act 
As concerns mount over the USPS's ability to handle the expected surge in ballots, states are working to ensure their residents' votes count.

Pennsylvania this week asked its supreme court to push back its deadline for accepting mail-in ballots.

In a court filing, it cited a letter from a USPS official to the state warning of "a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws."&nbsp;

The Washington Post reported on Friday similar notices were sent to 45 other states and the District of Columbia.

Jon Tester, a Democratic senator from Montana, also has asked DeJoy in writing to explain reports that the USPS was removing mailboxes from towns in the state.&nbsp;

Late Friday, a USPS spokesman told CNN that removal of mailboxes was being halted in 16 states, including Montana, and parts of two others.

Dimondstein said he hoped Trump's "brazen challenge to the democratic right -- that somehow he's going to starve this institution to suppress the vote -- somehow gives more impetus to Congress to react."&nbsp;

"Congress needs to act, and they need to act soon," he said.

The United States Postal Service is popularly known for delivering mail despite snow, rain or heat, but it faces a new foe in President Donald Trump. Ahead of the November 3 elections in which millions of voters are expected to cast ballots by mail due to the coronavirus, Trump has leveled an unprecedented attack at the USPS, opposing efforts to give the cash-strapped agency more money even as changes there have caused widespread delays in delivering letters and packages.

The United States Postal Service is popularly known for delivering mail despite snow, rain or heat, but it faces a new foe in President Donald Trump. Ahead of the November 3 elections in which millions of voters are expected to cast ballots by mail due to the coronavirus, Trump has leveled an unprecedented attack at the USPS, opposing efforts to give the cash-strapped agency more money even as changes there have caused widespread delays in delivering letters and packages. "They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots," Trump told Fox News on Thursday, calling the money "fraudulent." "But if they don't get those... that means you can't have universal mail-in voting." Also read: US House Speaker considering recalling Congress over Post Office woes On Saturday, Trump continued his assault on mail-in voting by telling reporters it would be a "catastrophe" and retweeting articles and comments alleging fraud. The Democratic opposition has sharply condemned Trump's statements, with some lawmakers claiming that the president is plotting to snarl the post office to undermine voting, create uncertainty and win a second term. "Pure Trump. He doesn't want an election," said Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Biden's running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, tweeted: "We cannot let Donald Trump destroy the United States Postal Service." Trump, asked by a reporter Saturday if he was trying to hobble the USPS, replied: "No, not at all." But the concerns are unlikely to disappear. Also read: US Postal Service watchdog to probe service woes as worries rise about mail ballots Reflecting the escalating nature of the controversy, former president Barack Obama has also weighed in. "What we've never seen before is a president say, 'I'm going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service ... and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it,'" Obama said in a podcast with a former aide. On Saturday, protesters gathered at the Washington home of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, blaring horns and banging pots in anger. USPS spokesman David Partenheimer attributed changes at the agency to its poor financial state. "We are not slowing down election mail or any other mail," he told AFP. "The Postal Service is in a financially unsustainable position, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume and a broken business model," he explained. "We face an impending liquidity crisis," Partenheimer said, calling on Congress and regulators to enact reforms. Meanwhile, in Congress... The postal troubles come as Congress remains deadlocked over a new stimulus bill to follow the $2.2 trillion CARES Act package passed in March as the coronavirus crisis erupted. Democrats have proposed giving the USPS billions of dollars in funding, and Trump -- after first saying he opposed that -- said Friday that perhaps some new funds could be included in a compromise. × On Saturday he blamed the Democrats again, telling reporters they "aren't approving proper funding for postal, and they're not approving the proper funding for this ridiculous thing that they want to do which is all mail-in voting." "You're right, there has to be more resources, I agree," he said. Trump said candidly in April that mail-in voting "doesn't work out well for Republicans" and has repeatedly described such ballots as prone to fraud. Experts disagree. A study this year by New York University's Brennan Center for Justice found that "it is... more likely for an American to be struck by lightning than to commit mail voting fraud." In an interview, American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein blamed the nationwide slowdowns in mail deliveries on measures implemented by DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser appointed by Trump who took office in June and pledged to reform the agency. Dimondstein said overtime has recently been reduced, meaning carriers leave distribution centers immediately rather than wait 10 or 15 minutes for delayed mail, as they previously did. That, combined with the around 40,000 workers who have had to quarantine since March because of COVID-19, has created delays. DeJoy -- defended by Trump as a "fantastic man" -- has "arbitrarily reduced hours of work of the employees, but the same work is still there to get done," Dimondstein said. States act As concerns mount over the USPS's ability to handle the expected surge in ballots, states are working to ensure their residents' votes count. Pennsylvania this week asked its supreme court to push back its deadline for accepting mail-in ballots. In a court filing, it cited a letter from a USPS official to the state warning of "a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws." The Washington Post reported on Friday similar notices were sent to 45 other states and the District of Columbia. Jon Tester, a Democratic senator from Montana, also has asked DeJoy in writing to explain reports that the USPS was removing mailboxes from towns in the state. Late Friday, a USPS spokesman told CNN that removal of mailboxes was being halted in 16 states, including Montana, and parts of two others. Dimondstein said he hoped Trump's "brazen challenge to the democratic right -- that somehow he's going to starve this institution to suppress the vote -- somehow gives more impetus to Congress to react." "Congress needs to act, and they need to act soon," he said.

Postal slowdown sparks claims of plot to undermine US vote

The U.S. Postal Service’s internal watchdog is investigating cost cutting that has slowed delivery and alarmed lawmakers ahead of a presidential election when up to half of U.S. voters could cast ballots by mail, a congressional aide said on Friday.

The Postal Service’s inspector general also will examine possible conflicts of interest involving new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has donated $2.7 million to President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans, according to Saloni Sharma, a spokeswoman for Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who requested the investigation.

DeJoy owns millions of dollars in stock in Postal Service rivals and customers, according to a financial disclosure form filed by his wife.

The Inspector General’s Office is “conducting a body of work to address concerns raised,” spokeswoman Agapi Doulaveris said.

The investigation comes as the Postal Service is warning states there is “significant risk” voters will not have enough time to complete and return their ballots. The Postal Service late on Friday released letters it had sent to 46 states and the District of Columbia, after the Washington Post reported earlier on the extent of the warnings.

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The warning highlighted the possibility that a meaningful number of mail votes in the Nov. 3 presidential election might go uncounted if they are returned too late.

“State and local election officials must understand and take into account our operational standards and recommended timelines,” Postal Service spokeswoman Martha Johnson said.

Election officials are bracing for a deluge of mail ballots as many states have made it easier to vote by mail to address concerns about public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

Republican President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding to make mail voting easier.

Trump, who is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in opinion polls, has said without evidence that widespread mail voting could lead to fraud. However, public records show he has requested mail ballots for himself and his wife Melania before Florida’s Tuesday primary election.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-presidential-election-trump-holds-up-coronavirus-aid-to-block-funding-for-mail-in-voting-320339">Also read:&nbsp;Ahead of presidential election, Trump holds up coronavirus aid to block funding for mail-in voting</a>

Evidence has shown that mail voting is as secure as any other method. Biden and other Democrats say Trump is trying to interfere with the election. Former Democratic President Barack Obama said he was worried that Trump was trying to “kneecap” the Postal Service.

The issue has taken on added urgency in recent weeks, as cost-cutting measures put in place by DeJoy have led to widespread mail delays.

Democratic congressional leaders and committee leaders sent a letter to Dejoy on Friday demanding an explanation for changes he is making at postal facilities.

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said on Friday that the changes could violate state laws against election tampering. She called for a criminal investigation.

Too little time?

The Postal Service has warned some states that allowing voters to request ballots less than a week before the election does not leave enough time to print the ballot, mail it to the voter and have it returned.

Half of the states allow voters to request an absentee ballot within seven days of an election. The Postal Service recommends that mail ballots should be completed and sent in by that point.

Ohio, Michigan and several other states with tight deadlines have so far not pushed them back.

Pennsylvania’s secretary of state asked the state Supreme Court to allow ballots to be counted if they are received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election, rather than on Election Day.

The Postal Service’s top lawyer, Thomas Marshall, also encouraged election officials to use its first-class mail service to ensure prompt delivery, rather than the cheaper and slower bulk-mail rate.

Marshall told Congress in a letter released Friday “we have ample capacity to handle the increased volume of Election Mail that will occur because of the pandemic.”

In past elections the Postal Service has given priority to all political and election mail, no matter the postage rate, according to workers and the service’s internal watchdog.

“If this letter aims to backtrack on that collaboration or the promise of prioritization of election mail, that would be very concerning,” said Tracy Wimmer, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of State, which oversees elections.

Roughly 0.25% of mail ballots were rejected in 2016 because they arrived too late, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

The U.S. Postal Service’s internal watchdog is investigating cost cutting that has slowed delivery and alarmed lawmakers ahead of a presidential election when up to half of U.

The U.S. Postal Service’s internal watchdog is investigating cost cutting that has slowed delivery and alarmed lawmakers ahead of a presidential election when up to half of U.S. voters could cast ballots by mail, a congressional aide said on Friday. The Postal Service’s inspector general also will examine possible conflicts of interest involving new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has donated $2.7 million to President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans, according to Saloni Sharma, a spokeswoman for Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who requested the investigation. DeJoy owns millions of dollars in stock in Postal Service rivals and customers, according to a financial disclosure form filed by his wife. The Inspector General’s Office is “conducting a body of work to address concerns raised,” spokeswoman Agapi Doulaveris said. The investigation comes as the Postal Service is warning states there is “significant risk” voters will not have enough time to complete and return their ballots. The Postal Service late on Friday released letters it had sent to 46 states and the District of Columbia, after the Washington Post reported earlier on the extent of the warnings. × The warning highlighted the possibility that a meaningful number of mail votes in the Nov. 3 presidential election might go uncounted if they are returned too late. “State and local election officials must understand and take into account our operational standards and recommended timelines,” Postal Service spokeswoman Martha Johnson said. Election officials are bracing for a deluge of mail ballots as many states have made it easier to vote by mail to address concerns about public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. Republican President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes additional funding to make mail voting easier. Trump, who is trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden in opinion polls, has said without evidence that widespread mail voting could lead to fraud. However, public records show he has requested mail ballots for himself and his wife Melania before Florida’s Tuesday primary election. Also read: Ahead of presidential election, Trump holds up coronavirus aid to block funding for mail-in voting Evidence has shown that mail voting is as secure as any other method. Biden and other Democrats say Trump is trying to interfere with the election. Former Democratic President Barack Obama said he was worried that Trump was trying to “kneecap” the Postal Service. The issue has taken on added urgency in recent weeks, as cost-cutting measures put in place by DeJoy have led to widespread mail delays. Democratic congressional leaders and committee leaders sent a letter to Dejoy on Friday demanding an explanation for changes he is making at postal facilities. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, said on Friday that the changes could violate state laws against election tampering. She called for a criminal investigation. Too little time? The Postal Service has warned some states that allowing voters to request ballots less than a week before the election does not leave enough time to print the ballot, mail it to the voter and have it returned. Half of the states allow voters to request an absentee ballot within seven days of an election. The Postal Service recommends that mail ballots should be completed and sent in by that point. Ohio, Michigan and several other states with tight deadlines have so far not pushed them back. Pennsylvania’s secretary of state asked the state Supreme Court to allow ballots to be counted if they are received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election, rather than on Election Day. The Postal Service’s top lawyer, Thomas Marshall, also encouraged election officials to use its first-class mail service to ensure prompt delivery, rather than the cheaper and slower bulk-mail rate. Marshall told Congress in a letter released Friday “we have ample capacity to handle the increased volume of Election Mail that will occur because of the pandemic.” In past elections the Postal Service has given priority to all political and election mail, no matter the postage rate, according to workers and the service’s internal watchdog. “If this letter aims to backtrack on that collaboration or the promise of prioritization of election mail, that would be very concerning,” said Tracy Wimmer, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of State, which oversees elections. Roughly 0.25% of mail ballots were rejected in 2016 because they arrived too late, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

US Postal Service watchdog to probe service woes as worries rise about mail ballots

US President Donald Trump continued his attacks on Amazon.com on Thursday, targeting the newspaper, owned privately by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as the company's "chief lobbyist" in a Twitter post.

Trump, who regularly lashes out against what he perceives as critical articles in the Post and other prominent U.S. news outlets, took issue with a trade story headline on China retaliating with trade penalties against U.S. products.

"The Fake News Washington Post, Amazon's "chief lobbyist," has another (of many) phony headlines," Trump wrote.

Amazon and the Washington Post did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.

Amazon shares rose 1.6 percent in early trade.

Trump has been vocal in his opposition of Amazon’s use of the US Postal Service, claiming the postal service is losing money delivering Amazon packages.

He has also accused the company of not paying enough taxes and putting small retailers out of business, adding to investors' worries that the company could be subject to more regulation. But he offered no evidence to back up his criticisms and did not suggest any actions he would take.

Amazon shares rose 1.6 per cent in early trade

US President Donald Trump continued his attacks on Amazon.com on Thursday, targeting the newspaper, owned privately by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, as the company's "chief lobbyist" in a Twitter post. Trump, who regularly lashes out against what he perceives as critical articles in the Post and other prominent U.S. news outlets, took issue with a trade story headline on China retaliating with trade penalties against U.S. products. "The Fake News Washington Post, Amazon's "chief lobbyist," has another (of many) phony headlines," Trump wrote. Amazon and the Washington Post did not immediately respond to requests for a comment. Amazon shares rose 1.6 percent in early trade. Trump has been vocal in his opposition of Amazon’s use of the US Postal Service, claiming the postal service is losing money delivering Amazon packages. He has also accused the company of not paying enough taxes and putting small retailers out of business, adding to investors' worries that the company could be subject to more regulation. But he offered no evidence to back up his criticisms and did not suggest any actions he would take.

Trump attacks Washington Post as Amazon's 'chief lobbyist'

Amazon shares fell sharply on Monday as President Trump continued to attack Jeff Bezos-owned online retailer over it use of US postal service.

Shares of Amazon went down 5.9 per cent at $1,362.48, wiping out nearly $45 billion from its market value.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon. THEY LOSE A FORTUNE, and this will be changed. Also, our fully tax paying retailers are closing stores all over the country...not a level playing field!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980800783313702918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In a tweet last week, the US president had said that if&nbspUS&nbsppostal service "increased its parcel rates" it would mean Amazon’s shipping costs would rise "by $2.6 billion."

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While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that “the size of the company’s lobbying staff has ballooned,” and that...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980063581592047617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The revenue of US postal service has been declining for years. In November the postal service had reported a decline in annual revenue, hurt by a drop in first-class and marketing mail. However, the package delivery system had shown a marked uptick.

"We believe the US Postal Service (USPS) has gained share from Amazon which is helping the USPS stay afloat," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote.

"President Trump's comments are consistent with industry sources we have spoken to in the shipping industry, who often label Amazon's deal with the USPS as a sweetheart deal," DA Davidson analyst Tom Forte wrote in a note.

"An argument, however, could be made that the USPS was losing billions before it expanded its service offerings for Amazon and would, still, likely lose billions if Amazon discontinued its use of the USPS tomorrow," Forte said.

Amazon hasn't disclosed its payment structure with UPS and did not react on&nbspthe recent Trump tweets against the company.

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Amazon hasn't disclosed its payment structure with UPS and did not react on the recent Trump tweets against the company.

Amazon shares fell sharply on Monday as President Trump continued to attack Jeff Bezos-owned online retailer over it use of US postal service. Shares of Amazon went down 5.9 per cent at $1,362.48, wiping out nearly $45 billion from its market value. Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon. THEY LOSE A FORTUNE, and this will be changed. Also, our fully tax paying retailers are closing stores all over the country...not a level playing field! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 2, 2018 × In a tweet last week, the US president had said that if&nbspUS&nbsppostal service "increased its parcel rates" it would mean Amazon’s shipping costs would rise "by $2.6 billion." While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that “the size of the company’s lobbying staff has ballooned,” and that... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018 × The revenue of US postal service has been declining for years. In November the postal service had reported a decline in annual revenue, hurt by a drop in first-class and marketing mail. However, the package delivery system had shown a marked uptick. "We believe the US Postal Service (USPS) has gained share from Amazon which is helping the USPS stay afloat," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. "President Trump's comments are consistent with industry sources we have spoken to in the shipping industry, who often label Amazon's deal with the USPS as a sweetheart deal," DA Davidson analyst Tom Forte wrote in a note. "An argument, however, could be made that the USPS was losing billions before it expanded its service offerings for Amazon and would, still, likely lose billions if Amazon discontinued its use of the USPS tomorrow," Forte said. Amazon hasn't disclosed its payment structure with UPS and did not react on&nbspthe recent Trump tweets against the company.

Watch: Trump tweets wipe out billions in Amazon shares

US President Donald Trump on Saturday resumed his attacks against online retailing giant Amazon and accused The Washington Post, owned by Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, of lobbying for the company.

His latest comments, two days after a similar swipe against Amazon, coincided with a report in Saturday's Post about three different legal efforts "trying to pry open" the books of the president's umbrella company, the Trump Organization.

On Twitter, Trump claimed the US Postal Service loses "billions of dollars" delivering packages for Amazon.

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While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that “the size of the company’s lobbying staff has ballooned,” and that...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980063581592047617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!", he wrote.

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...does not include the Fake Washington Post, which is used as a “lobbyist” and should so REGISTER. If the P.O. “increased its parcel rates, Amazon’s shipping costs would rise by $2.6 Billion.” This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/980065419632566272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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For the first quarter of the 2018 financial year the US Postal Service reported "strong package growth," with revenue in the segment up 9.3 percent from the same period last year to $505 million.

That did not offset the fall of $557 million in first-class and marketing mail revenue, the post office said.

Trump further alleged Saturday that Amazon's lobbying staff "does not include the Fake Washington Post," and said the Post should register as an official lobbyist.

The Post report on Saturday referred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's reported subpoena of Trump Organization documents related to Russia.

Mueller is probing whether there was collusion between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Moscow, as well as possible obstruction of justice.

The newspaper also reported that a lawsuit filed by porn actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged a sexual encounter with Trump has brought additional scrutiny to the Trump Organization.&nbsp;

Finally, it mentioned the District of Columbia and State of Maryland's suing of Trump over allegations that his "financial entanglements" violate the Constitution.

Trump is spending Easter weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He sent his latest tweets while in a motorcade on the way to his Trump International Golf Club.

On Thursday the president tweeted that Amazon uses the post office as its "delivery boy" and alleged that the firm pays "little or no taxes" to state and local governments.

The comments renewed concerns that Amazon could face scrutiny by antitrust regulators.

A day earlier, a report on the Axios news site said Trump`s wealthy friends complain that Amazon is killing shopping malls and brick-and-mortar retailers, and had asked about the possibility of going after the firm using antitrust laws.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday resumed his attacks against online retailing giant Amazon and accused The Washington Post, owned by Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, of lobbying for the company

US President Donald Trump on Saturday resumed his attacks against online retailing giant Amazon and accused The Washington Post, owned by Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, of lobbying for the company. His latest comments, two days after a similar swipe against Amazon, coincided with a report in Saturday's Post about three different legal efforts "trying to pry open" the books of the president's umbrella company, the Trump Organization. On Twitter, Trump claimed the US Postal Service loses "billions of dollars" delivering packages for Amazon. While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that “the size of the company’s lobbying staff has ballooned,” and that... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018 × "This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!", he wrote. ...does not include the Fake Washington Post, which is used as a “lobbyist” and should so REGISTER. If the P.O. “increased its parcel rates, Amazon’s shipping costs would rise by $2.6 Billion.” This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018 × For the first quarter of the 2018 financial year the US Postal Service reported "strong package growth," with revenue in the segment up 9.3 percent from the same period last year to $505 million. That did not offset the fall of $557 million in first-class and marketing mail revenue, the post office said. Trump further alleged Saturday that Amazon's lobbying staff "does not include the Fake Washington Post," and said the Post should register as an official lobbyist. The Post report on Saturday referred to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's reported subpoena of Trump Organization documents related to Russia. Mueller is probing whether there was collusion between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Moscow, as well as possible obstruction of justice. The newspaper also reported that a lawsuit filed by porn actress Stormy Daniels over an alleged a sexual encounter with Trump has brought additional scrutiny to the Trump Organization. Finally, it mentioned the District of Columbia and State of Maryland's suing of Trump over allegations that his "financial entanglements" violate the Constitution. Trump is spending Easter weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He sent his latest tweets while in a motorcade on the way to his Trump International Golf Club. On Thursday the president tweeted that Amazon uses the post office as its "delivery boy" and alleged that the firm pays "little or no taxes" to state and local governments. The comments renewed concerns that Amazon could face scrutiny by antitrust regulators. A day earlier, a report on the Axios news site said Trump`s wealthy friends complain that Amazon is killing shopping malls and brick-and-mortar retailers, and had asked about the possibility of going after the firm using antitrust laws.

Trump targets Amazon again in new tweets

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Watch: Trump tweets wipe out billions in Amazon shares

Trump targets Amazon again in new tweets