Upcoming Audit Work

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s (USPIS) mission is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in the mail. USPIS prioritizes strategic goals and defines the tactical actions required to succeed in the current law enforcement environment.

On October 1, 2024, USPIS launched a new strategic plan, which expanded the previous strategic plan goals outlining both Key Mission and Business Priorities and includes actionable steps to address each priority. The Key Mission Priorities represent critical and emerging issues affecting the Postal Service’s employees, the postal infrastructure, and postal products, as well as the success of USPIS’s mission. Management states Key Business Priorities were developed through extensive research and communication with representatives from various headquarters and field operations.

Our objective is to assess the Postal Inspection Service’s strategy, resources, and strategic priorities used to accomplish its mission. Our audit scope will consist of an analysis of USPIS strategy and resources, to include its personnel and spending budget.
 

The Postal Regulatory Commission uses a unique, structured pay scale to classify positions across the agency. In addition to competitive compensation, the PRC provides a range of benefits to its employees, including transit benefits, bonuses and awards, telework and remote options, and retention incentives. These offerings are designed to attract and retain a diverse, high-performing workforce while enhancing workplace flexibility.

Our objective is to verify that the PRC followed all applicable laws, regulations, and policies around employee compensation and benefits.

Customers have several options for receiving mail and packages from the Postal Service. They can choose to have items delivered to their home or business, a Post Office Box, or other locations like a private mailbox or post office counter. One option is the Postal Service’s Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) program, which lets approved businesses offer private mailbox rentals to customers. Our audit will evaluate the Postal Service’s management of the CMRA program, and we expect to release our final report in May 2025.

The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General initiated fieldwork on the U.S. Postal Service’s Service Performance During the FY 2025 Peak Mailing Season. Our objective is to evaluate the U.S. Postal Service’s performance during the fiscal year (FY) 2025 peak and post seasons, the implementation of its peak season preparedness plan, and operational changes to the network potentially impacting performance. We plan to issue the final report in May 2025. 

Priority Mail Express (PME) is the Postal Service’s fastest mail service, offering 1-day or 2-day delivery by 6 p.m., with a money-back guarantee. However, with the implementation of Local Transportation Optimization (LTO) in October 2023, most optimized post offices within the 16 LTO regions can no longer offer overnight PME. To support this initiative, the Postal Service announced in October 2024, changes to PME service, adding an extra delivery day in some cases. This audit will evaluate the Postal Service’s initial implementation of the new PME service.