Planned changes possibly coming to the U.S. Postal Service may cause slower delivery in rural areas. Initially proposed on August 22nd, mail delivery times would be adjusted with the goal of keeping a five-day delivery for the USPS’s Ground Advantage program and three-day delivery for local first-class mail.

The proposed revisions may end up saving the USPS $3 billion each year.

According to USPS officials, election mail and shipments for the holidays shouldn’t be affected as the proposed changes won’t take effect until next year. Medications also shouldn’t be affected, possibly delivered faster.

The proposal comes as a result of the USPS overhauling their shipping network to emphasize regional hubs and customers who live closer to regional hubs will see the largest reduction in shipping time for mail. But those who live further away, such as those in rural zones, may see longer shipment times.

The USPS has incurred losses of over $87 billion between 2007 and 2020, and an 80% drop in users of first-class mail since 1997.

Democrat Representative from Virginia Gerry Connolly said degrading service while raising prices was ‘a recipe for a death spiral’.