USPS President’s Day

Anish

November 9, 2023

In 2022, the United States Postal Service handled over 127.3 billion mail items. However, between November 26 and December 30 that year, it accepted, processed, and delivered roughly 11.7 billion— around 10% of its 2022 total mail volume in just five days.

Although most people received their holiday presents on time, some weren’t as lucky. The increased shipping volumes during this period caused delivery delays.

Whether you’re an individual sending a time-sensitive parcel or a business owner fulfilling customer orders, staying on top of holidays is more than just marking dates on the calendar— it’s a strategic necessity.

While non-widely observed holidays like Columbus or President’s Day may not necessarily lead to shopping rushes, they can still make or break your operations, primarily when you rely on the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery.

This article explores the significance of federal holidays on the Postal Service, explicitly focusing on President’s Day, and provides invaluable insights to help you navigate through these critical dates.

Are you curious to know how holidays can impact your shipping process? Talk to a Postal Service representative. Visit FindPostOffice.org to find your area’s post office locations.

The History of President’s Day

President’s Day has a rich history tracing back to the mid to late 19th century. It’s a holiday honoring the life of the American Revolution’s colonial armies’ commander-in-chief and later the United States of America’s first president, George Washington.

Officially recognized as Washington’s birthday by the federal government, President’s Day celebrates the pioneer leader’s February 22nd birth date. It has since evolved to commemorate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

The shift from a day commemorating George Washington to President’s Day was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill. This legislation aimed to provide more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers by moving the celebration of several holidays to specific Mondays.

The change took effect in 1971, and since then, President’s Day and other holidays like Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday have been observed on Mondays— the third Monday of February for the former and the third Monday of January for the latter.

What Is Closed on President’s Day?

President’s Day, among eleven holidays, is a federal holiday. All nonessential government employees are off-duty on these days of the year. In other words, most government offices and services close or operate on limited schedules and capacities.

Here’s what’s closed on President’s Day and how it can affect you:

Banks: The Federal Reserve system recognizes President’s Day as a bank holiday, resulting in the closure of most banks. Fortunately, essential financial services like online banking and ATMs may remain operational.
U.S. Financial Exchanges: While some financial sectors will operate as usual, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ commemorate Washington’s birthday. If you’re an investor, trading through these exchanges is prohibited during that day.
Mailing Services: The U.S. Postal Service is a government agency. As such, it observes President’s Day as a holiday and will halt regular operations, including mail delivery.

Fortunately, private companies like UPS (United Parcel Service) and FedEx (Federal Express) will function as usual, giving you alternative options for your shipping needs.

Government Offices: Although the federal government doesn’t require state and local governments to honor President’s Day, many close on the third Monday of February each year.

These government agencies include the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), public libraries, public schools, courthouses, and city halls.

Note that this list isn’t exhaustive, and there may be exceptions or variations based on regional or local regulations. Therefore, you must confirm specific holiday hours with businesses and institutions in your area to avoid inconvenience.

Is Mail Delivered on President’s Day? Holidays Observed by USPS

As mentioned, the United States Postal Service, also known as USPS and the U.S. Mail service, is a government agency that observes President’s Day. You’ll be disappointed if you’re a business or an individual hoping to mail essential items through its services.

Like many federal government offices, USPS doesn’t operate at 100% capacity on the third Monday of February. While some of its services, such as the website and USPS Tracking, will function normally, post offices will be closed, and postal workers will be unavailable.

In short, regular mail deliveries won’t occur on President’s Day. Unfortunately, USPS follows a holiday schedule, which means shipping may also be affected on the following holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
President’s Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas

What Is Closed or Not Operational on President’s Day at USPS?

During President’s Day, several essential USPS services and operations are closed or nonoperational. Here’s what to expect:

No counter operations: Retail post offices nationwide won’t conduct over-the-counter operations on President’s Day. In other words, you won’t be able to purchase postage stamps or mail packages in person.
No regular mail delivery: USPS will not make regular mail deliveries on President’s Day. If you’re awaiting mail, expect to send or receive your mailpiece the next business day following the federal holiday.
No regular mail pick-up: The U.S. Postal Service offers package pick-up. Unfortunately, this service will be unavailable on President’s Day. If you have outgoing mail, you may need to wait until the next business day for USPS to collect it.
No mail pick-up from USPS mailboxes: While you can’t ship a package through the post office on President’s Day, you can drop it off at one of USPS’ collection boxes. However, postal workers won’t retrieve these drop-off items until regular mail services resume.
No USPS customer service: Postal workers are off work during the third Monday of February. Likewise, customer service representatives won’t be able to answer your queries on that day.

Note that these President’s Day closures and service interruptions may vary slightly by location. To determine if your area’s USPS facilities will operate on Washington’s birthday, visit FindPostOffice.org.

Does USPS Deliver on Monday, President’s Day?

You may have noticed that we use the term “regular” when discussing USPS mail delivery services on President’s Day. That’s because there are exceptions, including Priority Mail Express and Amazon and Walmart deliveries.

The USPS Priority Mail Express service offers holiday delivery. While this feature comes with an additional surcharge, it may be worth considering if you’re sending time-sensitive packages, such as next-day orders. Similarly, Amazon and Walmart are eligible for holiday shipping.

It’s worth mentioning that UPS and FedEx may also provide shipping services on President’s Day if you’re looking to send a package outside of USPS’ available options.

All UPS mailing options are operational on that day. For FedEx, available delivery services on President’s Day include the following:

FedEx Express
FedEx Ground
FedEx Home Delivery
FedEx Ground Economy
FedEx Freight
FedEx Office
FedEx Custom Critical
FedEx Trade Networks

What Is Open or Operational on President’s Day at USPS?

While the U.S. Mail service operates at a limited capacity on President’s Day, with many of its services closed or temporarily halted, not everything at USPS comes to a standstill.

Here are some aspects of the Postal Service that may remain open for your convenience:

P.O. boxes: Some post offices have P.O. boxes separate from the counter operations or lobby that offer 24/7 access. If your area’s USPS facility does either, you can retrieve your mail items normally.
Self-service helpdesks: USPS offers self-service kiosks at various locations, and these machines may still be accessible on President’s Day if they’re situated in a separate area from the post office operations floor.
Priority Mail Express: While the U.S. Postal Service suspends most regular mail deliveries on President’s Day, there may be exceptions for Priority Mail Express shipments.
Ship-N-Click: The online USPS Ship-N-Click service is fully functional on President’s Day. You can continue to use this platform for various postal needs, such as purchasing postage, printing shipping labels, and scheduling package pick-ups.
USPS mailboxes: You can access USPS mailboxes, such as collection and drop boxes, round-the-clock and even on federal holidays like President’s Day. However, while you can leave your package in these mailboxes, expect USPS to collect them the following day.

What Is the USPS Holiday Schedule?

While this year’s President’s Day has come and gone, understanding the USPS holiday schedule is still crucial, especially if you want to plan your mailings and shipments effectively for the remainder of 2023.

Here is a list of USPS-observed holidays:

Valentine’s Day: Monday, February 14

Valentine’s Day is not a federal holiday and doesn’t impact USPS services. Regular mail delivery and post office operations continue as usual. In other words, sending heartfelt letters, flowers, and chocolates will be possible.

President’s Day: Monday, February 21

As discussed earlier, during President’s Day, celebrated on the third Monday of February, regular mail delivery services are suspended, except for USPS Priority Mail Express, Amazon, and Walmart services.

Good Friday: Friday, April 15

While Good Friday is a Christian Holiday, which roughly 70.6% of Americans observe, it isn’t a federal holiday. In other words, the U.S. Mail service and post offices open and operate on this day as usual.

Memorial Day: Monday, May 30

Memorial Day is a federal holiday honoring and mourning the U.S. military service members. Like President’s Day, Memorial or Decoration Day leads to the suspension of regular mail services. USPS Priority Mail Express remains an exception.

Independence Day: Monday, July 4

Fourth of July is one of, if not the most celebrated American holiday— as it should be! This holiday memorializes the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On this day, USPS won’t provide regular mail delivery services. So, plan accordingly.

Labor Day: Monday, September 5th

Labor Day celebrates the United States’ labor movement on the first Monday of September. The labor campaign contributed to America’s strength, laws, and treatment of workers. Because it’s a federal holiday, USPS will operate in a limited capacity.

Columbus Day: Monday, October 10th

Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrating the founding of the “New World” or when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. USPS doesn’t offer package shipping services on Columbus Day like other federal holidays.

Veterans Day: Friday, November 11th

Armistice Day or Veterans Day commemorates those who died in the country’s service and the end of World War I. Like Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a federal holiday, pausing USPS mailing services.

Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 24th

Thanksgiving celebrates the past year’s harvest and blessings. It’s also America’s busiest time to travel. Unfortunately, while many people move to and fro on Thanksgiving, the same isn’t true for mailpieces, as USPS suspends its delivery services.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The day after Thanksgiving Day is Black Friday. The first Monday after Thanksgiving is Cyber Monday. While they are not federal holidays, these specific days in the year are significant shopping days, resulting in increased shipping volumes.

The U.S. Postal Service functions normally during this weekend rush. However, expect delays or consider expedited shipping options like USPS Priority Mail Express. Alternatively, consider shipping through other carriers like FedEx and UPS.

Fortunately, FindPostOffice.org’s post office locator tool will allow you to find your area’s most convenient USPS facilities, helping you avoid long lines and ensuring your shipments arrive at their destination securely and promptly.

Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25th

Christmas Day results in the suspension of USPS shipping services. After all, who wants to spend Christmas on the road, delivering parcels to people outside of your family members and friends?

That said, the period leading up to the global holiday is one of the busiest for the U.S. Mail service and all carriers. If you want to beat the holiday rush, it will help if you plan ahead, especially if you’re a business that wants to maintain and increase customer satisfaction.

Tips for Sellers on Presidents’ Day

If you’re a business, such as an eCommerce retailer, relying on USPS for reliable and timely shipping and deliveries, planning ahead for President’s Day and other postal holidays is essential.

To ensure a smooth experience for you and your customers, consider the following tips:

Communicate with your customers: Staying connected with your customers is critical when potential delays in package deliveries may occur due to holidays. Send out notifications about President’s Day-related holdups and provide realistic shipping estimates.
Schedule shipments accordingly: Plan your shipments strategically to avoid major holidays when USPS pauses its services. This stage includes adjusting your shipping dates to accommodate post office closures or using USPS Priority Mail Express to ensure timely delivery.
Utilize USPS holiday schedules: Checking USPS’ holiday schedules enables you to anticipate postal holidays and make necessary adjustments to your mailing plans.

Alternatively, contact a Postal Service representative through the USPS customer helpline or your local post office. Visit FindPostOffice.org to find USPS facilities in your area quickly.

Consider alternative carriers: If you’re sending time-sensitive mail items, explore other shipping options, such as UPS or FedEx, which may operate on federal holidays like President’s Day.

Keep Post Office Holidays in Mind As You Prepare Your USPS Mailings and Shipments

President’s Day is a federal holiday affecting USPS services, suspending regular mail delivery. Understanding USPS holiday schedules and planning mailings and shipments can help you navigate postal holidays effectively.

Whether it’s President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, or any other federal holiday, being aware of USPS holiday observances allows you to manage your mail and package deliveries with minimal disruptions.

Remember to check the USPS holiday schedule and communicate with your customers when planning shipments during these holidays. Doing so can ensure a smooth and hassle-free mailing experience throughout the year.

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