USPS To Slow Delivery, Cut Saturday Mail

The United States Postal Service today plans to announce it is making about $3 million in spending cuts that will result in slower delivery and eliminate Saturday mail, among other service cuts that would result in cost-savings.

The agency will close about 250 of the nearly 500 mail processing facilities nationwide as early as March, 2012.

Next-day delivery of first class stamped mail would no longer be promised, the agency said. Instead of mail taking 1-3 days, the USPS says it will mostly take 2-3.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Postal Service is "facing another 20% drop in mail volume on top of the 20% volume drop it has already weathered. It has racked up $5.1 billion in debt this year and faces a deadline to make another $5.5 billion payment to its health care retirement fund on Dec. 18."

In addition, the Washington Post reports the USPS hopes to close 3,700 post offices in the next several years as well.