USPS Has New Mission Statement

The Postal Service now has a mission statement that describes the organization’s history, its duties and its status as an essential part of the federal government.

In April, the USPS Board of Governors adopted the mission statement — the first in the Postal Service’s history — as part of the governors’ work to conduct long-range planning and set strategic policy for the organization.

“For more than two centuries, the Postal Service has helped bind the nation together by providing prompt, reliable and efficient delivery services. The new mission statement reflects these values and articulates the organization’s vital role as a trusted part of the federal government in every community across the nation,” said Board of Governors Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan.

The statement describes three parts of the Postal Service’s mission:

• To serve the American people and, through its universal service obligation, bind the nation together by maintaining and operating its unique, vital and resilient infrastructure
• To provide trusted, safe and secure communications and services between the government and the American people, businesses and their customers, and the American people with each other
• To serve all areas of the nation, making full use of evolving technologies

Additionally, the statement explains how USPS will carry out its mission, including remaining an integral part of the U.S. government and providing all Americans with universal and open access to its unrivaled delivery and retail network; using technology, innovation and, where appropriate, private-sector partnerships to meet its customers’ changing needs; operating in a modern, efficient and effective manner; and remaining an employer of choice, including attracting and retaining high-quality employees.

The Postal Service’s mission and purpose are also described in Section 101 of Title 39 of the U.S. Code, originally enacted in 1970.

The full mission statement is available on usps.com.