Golden introduces bill to limit rural postal facility closures, increase Postal Service transparency

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today introduced the bipartisan Protecting Postal Performance Act to prevent the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from downsizing facilities in underserved areas, provide more oversight over modifications to delivery schedules, and increase public transparency on proposed changes.

“For years, Postal Service leadership has made explicit choices to lengthen delivery times, abruptly close rural post offices, and ignore inquiries from concerned citizens and lawmakers. Congress must act to hold the agency accountable,” Golden said. “Our bill is a collection of simple, realistic reforms to make future decision making more transparent and ensure the Postal Service no longer neglects rural America. I’m proud to help lead this important mission with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and Maine’s dedicated postal employees.”

The legislation is co-led by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).

“Passage of this bill would be a great step forward in protecting the Postal Service and ensuring prompt, reliable, and efficient mail service to the American public,” Scott Adams, Secretary of the American Postal Workers Union of Maine said. “Restricting ‘transportation optimization’ will help prevent built-in delays that would otherwise go into effect.”

The Protect Postal Performance Act is endorsed by the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA).

“UPMA is grateful for the bipartisan efforts of Rep. Budzinski, Rep. Hageman, Rep. Golden, Rep. Bergman and Rep. Pappas in Congress to protect the workers of the postal service from service cuts that would negatively impact the quality of mail delivery received by the American people. The Protecting Postal Performance Act will help ensure evidence, data, and sound management practices lead the USPS’s strategy going forward and will ensure that any changes to retail and postal facilities in the future are fully vetted. Sound financial management of the Postal Service means a sustainable postal service – and UPMA will be a partner in ensuring that the organization follows the data to be the best service provider to the American people,” Tony Leonardi, National President United Postmasters and Managers of America said. 

Golden has championed holding USPS leadership accountable to Mainers throughout his time in Congress. Following his outreach to Postmaster General DeJoy in 2023, USPS reopened its Etna facility that had been closed for more than two years. Last year, USPS also announced that it was postponing plans to consolidate the Eastern Maine Processing & Distribution Facility in Hampden after bipartisan efforts led by Golden and other members of Congress. In a February 2025 letter to Postmaster General DeJoy, he demanded answers over the agency’s delay in reopening the West Paris Post Office — which has been closed for nearly four years — despite having signed a new lease last August.

Full text of the legislation can be found here. 

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