Encouraging Buy American Policies for the United States Postal Service
Directs the United States Postal Service to align its domestic procurement preferences with broader federal Buy American standards, urging the Postmaster General to update purchasing rules once federal acquisition regulations are finalized.
Because USPS operates independently of standard federal procurement law, the order encourages rather than requires the changes, making its impact contingent on USPS leadership's voluntary response.
What this order does
What it orders
The order encourages the United States Postal Service to strengthen its existing Buy American procurement preferences to match any updated federal rules. Specifically, it urges the Postmaster General to consider amending the USPS Supplying Principles and Practices (SPP) — the Postal Service's internal procurement guidelines — to align with new federal price differential and domestic content standards once the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council issues its final rules under a prior executive order (EO 13881).
The order does not impose binding requirements on the USPS; the Postmaster General is "encouraged to consider" the amendments, not directed to make them. It also explicitly preserves the independent legal authority of the USPS, its officers, and its Board of Governors, meaning the Postal Service retains discretion over whether to act.
Who it affects
The United States Postal Service and its Postmaster General, who are urged to revise internal procurement rules. Suppliers and manufacturers — particularly domestic producers of goods the USPS purchases — could be affected if USPS voluntarily strengthens its Buy American preferences.
Why it matters
If USPS voluntarily adopts the changes, domestic manufacturers bidding for Postal Service contracts would receive stronger price preferences over foreign competitors. However, because the order is advisory rather than mandatory, its practical effect depends entirely on USPS leadership's willingness to act.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
The order is structured as a two-step conditional encouragement: first, the FAR Council must issue a final rule under EO 13881 updating price differentials and domestic content thresholds in federal acquisition regulations; then, within 90 days of that final rule, the Postmaster General is encouraged to consider parallel amendments to the SPP. There are no enforcement mechanisms — the order explicitly preserves USPS's independent authority and creates no legally enforceable rights or obligations.
Actions and deadlines
- Consider amending SPP price differential provisions to conform with updated FAR Buy American rules
- Consider amending SPP domestic content provisions to conform with updated FAR foreign-origin standards