USPSFinal RuleJune 17, 2025

Equal Access to Justice Act in Postal Service Proceedings

Finance & BankingLabor & WorkplaceOther

Summary

This regulation ensures that small businesses and individuals can afford to challenge unfair decisions made by the U.S. Postal Service in legal proceedings. It allows people who win their cases to recover their attorney fees and costs, making it easier for ordinary citizens to stand up to government agencies without going broke.

Key Points

1Small businesses and individuals can now recover legal fees if they win a case against the USPS, making it less expensive to fight unfair postal decisions
2The regulation helps level the playing field between regular people and a large government agency by removing the financial burden of hiring lawyers
3Applicants must show they are not wealthy (net worth under $2 million for businesses and $1 million for individuals) to qualify for fee recovery
4This rule applies to disputes over USPS rates, service standards, and other postal operations handled through formal agency proceedings
5The change encourages more people to pursue legitimate complaints they might otherwise drop due to legal costs

Key Dates

Published

June 17, 2025

Read on Federal Register View Docket

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.