Rep. Maxwell Frost on Rising Postal Crimes and Threats to Mail Carriers

Escalating Crimes Against Postal Service

• ⚠️ Postal crimes have surged, significantly threatening the safety of postal workers and disrupting mail delivery for millions.
• 📈 Between fiscal years 2019 and 2023, serious crimes against postal employees nearly doubled nationwide, with attacks on letter carriers increasing more than sevenfold.
• 📬 In fiscal year 2024, the USPS received over 268,000 complaints of mail and receptacle theft, a volume similar to fiscal year 2020.

Threats to Postal Employees

• 🔪 The theft of universal arrow keys, used by carriers to access mailboxes, saw a dramatic rise from over 300 reports in 2020 to more than 3,400 in 2024.
• 🚨 A letter carrier in Baltimore was robbed at knife point in October 2024 specifically to steal a package, highlighting the direct dangers faced by employees.
• 🧑‍💼 Postal workers are described as dedicated public servants delivering critical information, yet they are increasingly targeted, assaulted, and robbed.

Financial Crimes and Fraud

• 💰 Mail fraud, particularly check fraud schemes involving the postal service, resulted in an estimated $688 million in losses in 2023.
• ⚖️ A man in Baltimore was sentenced in March 2025 for exploiting the postal service in elder fraud schemes totaling over $700,000.

Oversight and Recommendations

• 🔍 Independent oversight bodies have identified gaps in the Postal Service's response to crime, emphasizing the need for continued transparency and accountability.
• 📝 A review of the "Project Safe Delivery" initiative by the GAO is anticipated to provide findings on its implementation and results.
• 🛠️ The Postal Service is working to implement recommendations, but ongoing oversight is critical.

Restoring Trust and Ensuring Resources

• 🏛️ The Postal Service has a constitutional mandate and serves as a vital lifeline, especially for rural communities.
• 🔒 It is crucial that the USPS receives adequate resources, authority, and strategic direction to protect its employees and secure the mail.
• 🙏 Postal employees deserve a safe workplace, and the American people deserve a trustworthy postal system.