#MailedIt: Internet rallies to raise funds for US postal service workers after Trump threatens to veto relief
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been threatened by closure, as President Donald Trump has been accused of wanting to prevent it from hosting the vote-by-mail process, for the upcoming elections. The USPS recently told Congress that it would be out of money by September if it does not receive 75 billion dollars in emergency funding, per CNN. Speculations over Trump's motives theorize his hostility towards Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, as he continues to blame the delivery service for the financial decline of the postal service. Instead, his proposition for a solution includes privatizing the USPS, pulling the plug on its unions and impeding the mail-in voting system.
Both the House and the Senate favored financial relief for USPS, but President Trump threatened to veto relief measures if they included the Post Office, calling it “a joke” and saying package rates should be raised to four times current levels. Trump refused to provide for more than 630,000 dedicated postal service employees, whose service American citizens are hugely dependant on. In these unprecedented times when are faced with a deadly global pandemic, these public servants have put their lives at risk every day by continuing to deliver food, benefit checks, essential packages, prescription drugs, and more. They have been working incessantly amid the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the rising number of cases and fatalities in the country. More than 2,000 USPS employees have tested positive, while dozens have died from symptoms related to the contagion, said Rep Gerry Connolly of Virginia's 11th Congressional District, who currently serves as the Chairman of the House's Government Operations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, in an op-ed for CNN.
"Donald Trump is condemning the Postal Service to its demise. I should know — I chair the subcommittee with jurisdiction over USPS. It’s time for him to get out of the way and let us #SaveThePostOffice", Connolly tweeted on July 1. According to a Washington Post report, the Trump administration is using the pandemic as an excuse to take over postal service operations, by trying to manipulate it into accepting unfeasible loan terms and yield its unprecedented decision-making to the Treasury Department. This would be a major financial balk that would have grave consequences for the organization.
The White House immediately came under fire, as social media users took to their platforms to urge Trump to save the postal service. The hashtag '#MailedIt' garnered several tweets, making it a nationwide top trend, as users also took it upon themselves to make efforts in sustaining the USPS. Hundreds of Americans have signed petitions and contacted their elected representatives requesting support for the public service agency. The trend also set that with every tweet of the hashtag, a stamp would be purchased, proceeds of which would go to the USPS.
"Trump wants to neutralize @USPS to prevent vote by mail in November. Dear @stevenmnuchin1, give this esteemed organization adequate funding to support a proper election. Much respect to the postal service and it’s dedicated employees. Also, these are my fave stamps. #MailedIt," said Emmy-winning filmmaker, Ava DuVernay on Twitter. "The @USPS
is essential to this democracy & has the highest approval rating of any federal agency! Tweet the hashtag #MailedIt today and we will buy a stamp to support this vital service," comedian, Samantha Bee added in support, while the Twitter handle for her show, 'Full Frontal with Samantha Bee' wrote: "The United States Postal Service doesn’t cost taxpayers anything for operating expenses. It is funded entirely through the sale of its services and products. Help us help them by tweeting with #MailedIt! We’ll buy a stamp for every tweet with that hashtag!"
"If you ever wanted to know why the current President has it out for the #USPS, here's Exhibit A: The USPS puts out stamp cachets for Presidential inaugurations," a user noted, "This was Trump's. Its like they knew what was coming and tried to tell us without words. #MailedIt". Another Twitter user urged. "Please help USPS by tweeting #MailedIt. For every tweet that has this hashtag, a stamp will be bought. Small businesses rely on their services and we already continually see a rise in international shipping which makes it harder for others to buy overseas." A user concurred in a tweet, "We use USPS for all of our shipping, they’re so patient and kind, always dropping off more mail bins for us and picking up our overstuffed ones every day. their services are so important!!! #MailedIt."
The USPS renders its service to 160 million households and businesses in the nation while fueling the US mail industry with $1.6 trillion. It employs more than 7.3 million people comprising the greeting card industry, online retailers, small business and magazine industry.