The United States Postal Service has released its holiday operating schedule as the nation heads into the new year, highlighting next week as the final opportunity for mailing gifts and cards to meet recommended delivery dates. Postal officials noted that customer traffic has steadily increased since the start of the month, with this week expected to be the busiest of the year at post offices across the country.
USPS locations will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, though Priority Mail Express packages may be delivered on Christmas in certain areas for an additional fee. Regular mail services and operations will resume the day after Christmas, and customers are encouraged to check local post offices for January 2 hours.
The postal service has been preparing for the holiday surge since early in the year, boosting capacity in processing, logistics, and delivery through nationwide modernization efforts. Last December, USPS handled 45% more packages and over 350 million mail items per operating day, while converting nearly 232,000 employees to full-time roles since 2020.
USPS integrates personnel, technology, transportation, equipment, and facilities into a streamlined network to meet demand during peak periods. Serving more than 170 million addresses six or seven days a week, the agency funds its operations primarily through postage sales and services, rather than tax dollars. Over the past four years, it has opened nearly 200 processing facilities nationwide, including new locations this year in Dallas, Phoenix, Johnson City, Tennessee, and other cities.
The agency also warned the public to remain vigilant against scams, advising Americans to delete texts claiming to be from USPS and avoid clicking on any links.