A political game of hot potato has come to a head, if not a conclusion with the USPS Board of Governors voting to prohibit the cessation of mail delivery on Saturday, as proposed by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe last February to trim $2 billion from the USPS operating deficit.
Shortly after Donahoe made the recommendation, Congress effectively cut the legs out from under it by passing a Continuing Resolution funding the USPS as long as it maintained 1984 levels of service, which of course includes Saturday mail delivery (packages are excepted). The rationale for the Board's decision is apparently tied to an absence of authority granted to the USPS to declare such modifications to service, which include delivery schedules and price increases. It is apparently hoped such authority may be granted by law in the future.