Episode 149: The OIG Just Exposed the Postal Service's Biggest Problem. And It Isn't the Letter Carrier.

Operational and Financial Performance Across Postal Service Regions

OIG Report 25-091-R26 (July 27, 2026)

This report is one of the most significant USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) audits in recent years because it moves beyond simply examining delayed mail or financial losses. Instead, it asks a much deeper question:

Why are some Postal Service districts consistently successful while others consistently struggle even though they all operate under the same national policies and collective bargaining agreements?

To answer that question, the OIG compared five high-performing districts with five low-performing districts by conducting site visits, interviewing employees and managers, observing operations, reviewing financial data, and analyzing employee surveys, operational performance, workforce statistics, and grievance records.