Senate President Gary Stevens and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon wrote a letter in February urging Alaska’s congressional delegation to protect the Alaska Bypass Mail program. This program allows bulk shipments of food and supplies directly from Anchorage and Fairbanks to off-road retailers.
Alaska legislators expressed concerns over federal spending cuts potentially impacting the program, which remains crucial for rural communities. The US Postal Service (USPS) subsidizes this unique system, spending approximately $133 million on it in 2022.
Critics argue it operates more like a private freight service than traditional mail delivery. Concerns over the program intensified after former President Donald Trump proposed transferring USPS to the Department of Commerce.
His administration signaled interest in privatizing USPS, promoting fears that rural delivery services could become unsustainable. In March, Elon Musk supported privatization, emphasizing the need for efficiency and cost-cutting.
The ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Congressman Gerry Connolly, cautioned that privatizing USPS would result in a sharp rise in delivery costs in Alaska. He argued that removing Bypass Mail might make it too expensive for residents and businesses to send packages to isolated areas.
Bypass Mail was born when post offices in Anchorage found it challenging to handle the growing number of parcels going to rural Alaska in the 1970s. To expedite disruption, USPS personnel began routing large cargo to air carriers.
The 1970 Postal Reauthorization Act later mandated equitable mail service nationwide, helping protect Alaska’s unique system from elimination. Despite this, critics have frequently targeted Bypass Mail for budget cuts.
A 2011 USPS report questioned its necessity while a 2014 congressional hearing debated its costs. Former congressman Don Young defended it, arguing that Alaska’s roadless terrain left few alternatives for mail delivery.
USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy proposed eliminating Bypass Mail in 2020 but withdrew the idea due to political pushback. Opponents claimed that ending the program would require USPS to overhaul its entire logistics system for rural Alaska.
Grant Aviation, a primary Bypass Mail carrier, transported 17 million pounds of mail last year while other airlines collectively moved millions more. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that multiple carriers were vital in delivering mail to Alaska’s most remote areas.
Privatization remains a looming concern, and USPS leaders are unwilling to comment on potential changes. Meanwhile, DeJoy recently partnered with federal agencies to explore further cost-cutting cost-cutting measures.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Beacon.
