Trump Orders Official Review of USPS Amid Amazon Fight

Executive order doesn't mention Bezos' company, but says USPS is bleeding money
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2018 7:23 AM CDT
Amid Amazon Fight, Trump Orders Review of Post Office
President Trump speaks during an event on tax policy in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, April 12, 2018.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Trump has railed against Amazon repeatedly in recent weeks, accusing Jeff Bezos' company of getting a sweetheart deal from the Postal Service on delivery. On Thursday night, the president took what could be his first tangible step toward changing that: He issued an executive order calling for a review of the agency's finances, reports Bloomberg. The order, which does not mention Amazon, notes the USPS has lost more than $65 billion over the last decade. "The USPS is on an unsustainable financial path and must be restructured to prevent a taxpayer-funded bailout," the order reads.

An analysis at Politifact disputes Trump's previous assertions that the delivery deal with Amazon, whose terms are confidential, is costing the USPS money. ("I am right about Amazon costing the United States Post Office massive amounts of money for being their Delivery Boy," Trump wrote on April 3.) Instead, it chalks up most of the agency's red ink to a 2006 law requiring USPS to prefund the health benefits of retirees. (One other way Trump could change policy at USPS: Start filling numerous vacancies on its board of governors.)

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