INFORM Act of 2025: USPS Must Now Give Heads-Up and Get Feedback on Big Service Changes

The INFORM Act of 2025 basically forces the Postal Service to be upfront about any major changes to mail service nationwide. Instead of just announcing things, they now have to give everyone a heads-up before they shake things up.

Mail Makeover Makeover

The core of the INFORM Act, or the "Instituting Notification Formalities On Reorganizing Mail Act of 2025," is all about transparency. The bill, specifically in SEC. 2, requires the USPS to loop in the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and the public before making any significant changes. Think of it like this: if your local coffee shop was planning to stop serving your favorite drink, they'd ideally tell you in advance, right? Same idea here, but with mail.

Before any big changes happen, the Postal Service has to:

1. Submit their plans to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). This happens well in advance, giving the PRC time to issue an advisory opinion.
2. Post a notice in every affected post office. This notice stays up for at least 30 days after the change, so you won't miss it.
   • The notice has to lay out the details of the change, when it's happening, and how it'll impact mail service nationwide.
   • It also needs to tell you about public meetings, how to submit comments, and where to find more information.

Real-World Rumble

Let's say the USPS wants to change processing procedures, which might slow down delivery times in certain areas. Under this law, they can't just do it. They have to announce it, explain the impact (like, "packages might take an extra day or two to arrive"), and give people a chance to weigh in. This is a big deal for, say, small business owners who rely on timely deliveries, or for folks in rural areas who might be disproportionately affected by service changes.

Or, imagine a scenario where the USPS plans to reduce hours at several branches. A small business owner, let's call him Mike, who ships products daily, would be directly affected. The INFORM Act ensures Mike gets notified about these potential changes, knows when and where to voice his concerns, and can potentially influence the final decision or at least prepare his business for the impacts.

The Bottom Line

This bill is all about making sure the USPS doesn't operate in a vacuum. It's about giving regular folks—whether you're running a business, waiting on important medication, or just sending a birthday card—a say in how their mail service is run. While the PRC's opinion is just "advisory", meaning the USPS doesn't have to follow it, the public pressure and formal review process could make a real difference. It forces a level of accountability that wasn't there before.