Congresswoman King-Hinds Calls for Urgent Action to Address USPS Mail Delays to the CNMI

Washington – Today, Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds wrote to United States Postmaster General David Steiner, urging immediate attention to ongoing and severe delays in mail delivery to the Northern Mariana Islands.

In her letter, Congresswoman King-Hinds congratulated Postmaster General Steiner on his recent appointment and emphasized the essential role the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) plays in providing mail service to Americans, particularly those living in remote and insular areas. She noted, however, that mail delivery times to the CNMI can sometimes reach an untenable eight to ten weeks for packages and standard mail from the mainland United States, creating significant disruptions for residents and businesses alike.

“Mail from the mainland is routinely routed through the San Francisco Processing and Distribution Center and is placed on maritime transport, rather than airmail,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “This results in extreme delivery delays that interfere with access to vital services and materials—prescription medications, legal documents, and critical business supplies among them.”

The Congresswoman’s letter also questions whether current USPS practices align with its Universal Service Obligation (USO), which mandates timely and affordable mail delivery to all parts of the United States, including the territories.

To address the problem of delays, Congresswoman King-Hinds requested a detailed response from USPS on the following:

1. The current routing protocols for mail bound for the CNMI and the proportion sent via air versus sea.
2. Average delivery times to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, based on USPS data.
3. Any reviews USPS has conducted regarding service standards to U.S. territories, and plans to improve delivery times to the CNMI.
4. The operational and financial requirements to restore or implement regular airmail service to the region.

“I stand ready to work collaboratively with USPS leadership to ensure all Americans—in any zip code—receive the timely, reliable service they deserve,” said King-Hinds.

The Congresswoman pledged to continue advocating for solutions that treat the residents of the CNMI with fairness and parity under federal postal service standards.