The governance structure set up in 1970 for the U.S. Postal Service is now at serious risk. The nine outside governors appointed by the president are no more. All of their nine-year terms expired and the Senate has not confirmed any replacements. The candidates nominated by President Obama have not been confirmed, reportedly because of a secret hold put on them by Senator Bernie Sanders. Now it will be up to President-elect Donald Trump to appoint postal governors.

A recent article by journalist Jon Hill pointed out the risks to the hold strategy and the resultant lack of postal oversight: “The holds may reflect objections from APWU members and postal advocates that the pending governor nominees won’t represent the best interests of the USPS’ half-million employees. But if the goal is to save the USPS from further downsizing or forestall efforts to privatize the post office, this strategy may backfire.”

While the USPS maintains that its “temporary emergency committee (TEC)” now comprised of Postmaster General Megan Brennan and Deputy Postmaster General Ron Stroman has the legal authority to govern in place of the board of governors, Hill speculates that legal challenges are likely. That’s because so much is at stake in decisions normally reserved to the governors to raise rates, hire and fire the PMG, and start new services.

If a crisis ensues, Congress could intervene in ways that the hold proponents do not intend, such as privatization. Postal customers hope that the Trump administration turns its attention to the USPS and the critical role it plays in our economy.