The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced yesterday that it will delay closing or consolidating any post offices or mail distribution centers until May 15, 2012. The Postal Service granted this six-month moratorium in order to allow Congress time to consider the enactment of comprehensive federal legislation that would help reduce USPS operating costs by $20 billion in order to return to profitability by 2015.

Earlier this year, the USPS announced its plans to close 3,653 post offices and 482 distribution centers to help close the massive funding gap facing the agency.