Sprawling duties of the postmaster
The postmaster general overseas a vast operation.
Over 44% of the world’s mail is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, making it the largest delivery service in the world.
In 2023 alone, the Postal Service handled 116.2 billion pieces of mail. And while processing and delivering mail is the key component of the Postal Service’s mission, it has other responsibilities as well.
In many ways, in fact, it’s the nondelivery parts of the organization that have the biggest impact on the U.S. economy.
In 2023, USPS owned or leased 22,873 properties around the country. To place this in perspective, the General Services Administration – known as “America’s landlord” – owns or leases only 8,800 properties.
The agency also paid $2 billion in salary and benefits to its 525,469 career employees and processed more than 8.5 million passport applications.
Finally, USPS has a mandate that supports the health of many Americans. The service’s “last mile” delivery commitment ensures that all Americans – even those living in rural communities – receive mail delivery six days a week. This is particularly important for people without easy access to medical services, as it often provides lifesaving medications to people in need.
