US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

39 U.S.C. § 201

United States Postal Service

There is established, as an independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, the United States Postal Service.

Pub. L. 91–37584 Stat. 720(, , .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375section 101 of this titleSection effective , pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See , set out as a note preceding .

Transfer of Functions; Abolition of Office

Pub. L. 91–375, § 4(a)84 Stat. 773

“There are hereby transferred to the United States Postal Service all the functions, powers, and duties of the Post Office Department and the Postmaster General of the Post Office Department, and the Post Office Department and the office of Postmaster General of the Post Office Department are abolished.”
, , , provided that:

section 4(a) of Pub. L. 91–375section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375section 101 of this titleProvisions of effective within 1 year after , on date established therefor by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service and published by it in the Federal Register, see , set out as an Effective Date note preceding .

Inspector General of the United States Postal Service

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(f) [title VI, § 662(e)]110 Stat. 3009–314

“(1)

First appointment .—

section 5315 of Title 5Pub. L. 95–452The first Inspector General of the United States Postal Service appointed pursuant to the amendments made by this section [amending sections 102, 202, 204, 410, and 1003 of this title, , Government Organization and Employees, and section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978, , formerly set out in the Appendix to Title 5, and renumbering another section 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978 as 8H] shall be appointed before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [].
“(2)

Transfers.—

“(A)

In general .—

5 U.S.C. 415(b)All measures described in section 8G(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 [see ] necessary to establish an Office of Inspector General within the United States Postal Service pursuant to this section, including all appropriate transfers, shall occur—
“(i)
no earlier than the date the appointment under paragraph (1) is made; and
“(ii)
no later than 60 days after the date the appointment under paragraph (1) is made.
“(B)

Provisions relating to personnel.—

“(i)

Consultation .—

section 102(3) of title 39Decisions concerning which personnel are to be transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be made by the Governors (within the meaning of , United States Code) in consultation with the Inspector General appointed under paragraph (1).
“(ii)

Transferred personnel .—

section 1003(b) of title 39Personnel transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall, to the extent not inconsistent with other provisions of this subsection, be transferred in accordance with applicable laws and regulations relating to the transfer of functions within the United States Postal Service, except that, notwithstanding any provision of , United States Code, as amended by this section, the classification and compensation of such personnel shall not be reduced, by reason of having been transferred, for 1 year after being so transferred.
“(3)

Transition provision .—

The Chief Postal Inspector may continue to serve as Inspector General of the United States Postal Service until the date on which an Inspector General is appointed under paragraph (1) or, if earlier, the end of the period referred to in such paragraph. Compensation for any service under this paragraph shall be determined as if this section had not been enacted.”
, , , 3009–382, provided that: