The letter was real and sent to postal workers, but it didn’t signal a new policy or departure from normal practices.
In January 2026, social media posts circulated an image of a letter allegedly sent to U.S. Postal Service workers. The letter stated it could serve as proof that the postal worker was classified as an essential employee, exempting them from certain state or local government restrictions, such as curfews and some evacuation orders.
Some social media users who shared the letter said it could be “hinting at a possible crisis ahead” because it explained that postal workers were exempt from movement restrictions implemented in response to “large-scale emergencies,” including epidemics, hurricanes and civil unrest.
In an email to Snopes, Postal Service spokesperson Jim McKean indicated the letter was real and had been sent to employees, calling it “a reissuance of our Essential Services letter.” His response contradicted social media posts suggesting that the letter signaled a new policy or a departure from normal practices.
The union directly confirmed the letter’s authenticity and sent Snopes a copy, which is visible below. The language in the APWU’s copy exactly matched what appeared in the social media posts.
