• The changes come after Postmaster Louis DeJoy in March proposed cutting $160 billion in predicted losses over the next decade 
  • Almost four out of every 10 pieces of first-class mail will see slower delivery 
  • Those who live in rural areas, the disabled and the elderly will be hurt most, an expert says 
  • Other problems people could face include late fees for those who pay bills by mail, or those who need tax forms or passports quickly 

Mail delivery could slow down to rates not seen since the 1970s starting Friday, as the U.S. Postal Service begins cutting costs while Congress considers a financial relief package.

The changes come after Postmaster Louis DeJoy in March proposed cutting $160 billion in predicted losses over the next decade with the changes in service standards a key part.

Almost four out of every 10 pieces of first-class mail will see slower delivery, Lexington Institute senior fellow Paul Steidler told CBS News. That ‘means mail delivery will be slower than in the 1970s,’ he said, adding that DeJoy’s plan is ‘disastrous.’  Lexington is a think tank that believes in limiting the role of the federal government.

The new standards, finalized in August, revise existing one-to-three-day service standards to one to five days and will impact about 40  percent of first-class mail.

Steidler said those who live in rural areas, the disabled and the elderly will be hurt most by these changes.

‘It’s the least fortunate who will be hurt hardest by this,’ he said. ‘Everything in American society is getting faster, it seems, except for the mail delivery — which is now going to get slower.’

Some could face late fees if they pay bills by mail, and others who need tax forms or passports quickly could be delayed.

The postal service also plans starting on October 3 to again temporarily hike prices for some package shipments for the 2021 peak holiday season.

Delivery standards will be slower for about 7% of periodicals. Some major U.S. businesses are sending notices telling customers to account for additional time when mailing bills.

USPS recommends that ‘if it would take you more than a day to drive your mail to its destination, make sure to give your long-distance mail some extra time to travel with USPS.’

The service will maintain a two-day delivery standard for single-piece first-class mail traveling within a local area, a spokeswoman said, adding that the postal service improved delivery standards in 2021.

‘The postal service has shown steady improvements for all first-class mail, marketing and periodical mail categories over the last seven months,’ the spokeswoman said. ‘We have worked tirelessly to overcome challenges from recent storms and continue to recruit thousands of employees for the upcoming holiday peak season.’

But the USPS has struggled with poor delivery performance over the past year, facing increased volume and staffing issues due to COVID-19.

In late August, USPS raised prices of first-class stamps to 58 cents from 55 cents.

USPS has reported net losses of more than $90 billion since 2007. One reason is 2006 legislation mandating it pre-fund more than $120 billion in retiree health care and pension liabilities, a requirement labor unions have called an unfair burden not shared by other businesses.

Congress is considering a plan to provide USPS with $46 billion in financial relief over 10 years, including eliminating the requirement that USPS pre-fund retiree health benefits for 75 years.

DeJoy, a Trump administration appointee, has become a figure of controversy among Democrats. Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Wisconsin and Rep. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey have both called on DeJoy to be fired by President Biden.

Federal law bars the president from terminating the postmaster general under any circumstances