The Postmaster General John Peter has stated that US Postal Service is in "Acute financial crisis". He has sought Congress' approval in adopting cost cutting measures. Cost cutting measures include five-day delivery, shuttering postal facilities and withdrawing finance health care for retirees.

David Walton, a spokesperson with the U. S. Postal service stated that USPS has been financial challenges. He opines that five day week plan could save 3.4 to 3.7 billion a year. This would save the commuting hours for employees, fuel expenses and vehicle maintenance. He also said that the US had the largest delivery fleet in the world.

The Post Master General has also sought the permission of Congress to stop payments for current retirees' health benefit premiums. Potter said this would save the Postal Service $24.6 billion by 2016. He also asked for a permission to close or consolidate postal facilities like mail processing plants.

Potter felt that the popularity of electronic mailing systems was a threat to the postal mail system. They had already adopted layoffs, early retirements, halting construction, cuts in advertising costs and increasing health care contributions by employees and re-setting delivery routes as cost cutting measures.