Trump thrusts the Postal Service back into his election fraud crusade

President Donald Trump’s March executive order expands the US Postal Service’s role beyond delivering ballots to enforcing voter eligibility, sparking legal challenges and internal concerns. The order requires USPS to collaborate with states to create federal citizenship lists using data like Social Security and immigration records, then verify voter rolls against those lists. Ballots tied to ineligible voters would be flagged or rejected, a move critics call an unconstitutional power grab, as election administration is typically a state responsibility. USPS officials have expressed doubts about their ability to execute the plan, citing financial instability and operational strain. The agency reported a nearly $2 billion loss in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and warns it could run out of money within a year without congressional support. Former USPS Board Chair S. David Fineman called the proposal a ‘disaster,’ arguing the agency lacks the resources or infrastructure to handle such a complex task. The order’s implementation begins with a rulemaking process due by the end of May, though legal battles over its constitutionality are already underway. Democratic-led states and voting-rights groups have sued, arguing the federal government oversteps its authority. Meanwhile, the White House claims the rule will enhance security for absentee ballots, which currently lack the safeguards of in-person voting. This escalation follows Trump’s 2020 threats to withhold USPS funding amid concerns over mail-in voting during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, with the Supreme Court reviewing ballot deadlines, Trump is again pushing to restrict mail-in voting, leveraging USPS as a tool to reshape election processes. The agency’s compliance risks deepening political divisions while straining its already fragile financial and operational capacity.