New Mexico congressman urges Postal Service to reconsider temporary 8% package fee

Organ Mountain News report

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is criticizing a proposed U.S. Postal Service fuel surcharge on package deliveries and is urging postal leadership to reconsider the plan.

In a March 26 letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Vasquez objected to a proposed temporary 8% surcharge tied to rising fuel costs. The Postal Service has said the increase is intended to offset higher transportation expenses as fuel prices climb amid global conflict involving Iran.

Vasquez argued the surcharge would shift costs onto consumers and linked the increase to what he described as the administration’s “unauthorized” war in Iran.

“For decades, USPS has been the most affordable and reliable mail delivery option for Americans. Seniors, rural residents, veterans and working families disproportionately depend on the USPS for essential functions like paying bills, receiving medications, filing taxes and accessing critical government benefits,” Vasquez wrote.

“This fuel surcharge is the latest example of how this Administration and USPS's mismanagement threatens to leave these Americans and rural communities without essential, affordable services,” he continued.

Vasquez also wrote that “no one is denying that fuel costs have gone up because of the Administration's decision to go to war in Iran,” but said passing those costs on to consumers is “unacceptable.”

The proposed surcharge would apply to several package services, including Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage, and would not affect first-class mail if approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Vasquez has also voiced broader opposition to U.S. military actions involving Iran and has supported legislation and resolutions aimed at limiting those actions.