12/10/2025

ZIP Code Legislation Harms Mail Delivery at a Potential $800 Million cost

Source: Postal Times, December 4, 2025

In his letter to the chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Dave Steiner requests the hastily passed House ZIP Code bills receive a thorough legislative hearing before advancing. This ensures Senators are fully aware of the devastating operational and financial impact these bills would inflict on the U.S. Postal Service, their states, named and surrounding communities, employees, and the mailing industry.

Steiner listed four overarching reasons he opposes the legislation of unique ZIP Codes that have been absent from the debate on these bills.

1. These bills would significantly degrade mail service in the named communities, and also in the surrounding areas, without any consultation or outreach to users of the mail.
2. These bills would create a significant financial burden for the Postal Service. We estimate at least $800 million in upfront costs, and $90 million in annual recurring costs.
3. Many of these mandated changes are operationally impossible due to the unique configuration of the ZIP Code.
4. Third-party uses of ZIP Codes can be administratively dealt with without changing a 5-digit ZIP Code.

Read the full letter here