A government shutdown will not affect the mail, meaning even if Congress does not pass a funding plan, holiday gifts still out for delivery should arrive.
Congress has until midnight Saturday to avoid a government shutdown. If it misses the deadline, several agencies would not have the funds to continue operating, meaning some services would be delayed or stopped and federal workers would be furloughed or work without pay.
However, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is funded through the sale of its products and services, not by tax dollars, meaning it will stay operational if Congress fails to avert a shutdown.
“U.S. Postal Service operations will not be interrupted in the event of a government shutdown, and all Post Offices will remain open for business as usual,” according to a 2023 post on the agency’s website.