The price of a first-class postage stamp could soon approach $1 as the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) faces a severe liquidity crisis. During a Tuesday congressional hearing, Postmaster General David Steiner indicated that rates may need to rise to between 90 and 95 cents—up from the current 78 cents—to offset mounting “controllable losses.”
The agency warned lawmakers that it is on track to run out of money by February 2027. Officials cited a $15 billion statutory debt limit, unchanged since 1990, as a primary obstacle to maintaining operations. Without a congressional move to lift this borrowing cap, the USPS could struggle to meet its obligations to vendors and employees within the next year.
While higher stamp prices are being proposed as a necessary stabilizer, the agency maintains that legislative intervention remains essential for long-term solvency.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
