Honestly, we’ve all been there—standing at the end of the driveway, staring at an empty plastic box, wondering if the mail carrier just decided to skip your street or if there's some holiday you completely forgot about. It's annoying. You're expecting a check, a birthday card, or maybe just that random package from an impulsive late-night shopping spree.
Today is Friday, January 16, 2026.
The short answer is yes. Does mail run today? Absolutely. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is fully operational today. There is no federal holiday keeping the trucks in the lot or the post offices locked up.
But while the "yes" is simple, the "why" behind your mail potentially being late is getting a lot more complicated this year. 2026 has brought some massive shifts to how the USPS breathes and moves. If your mailbox is empty, it might not be a holiday issue; it might be a "system" issue.
Why Today Isn't a Postal Holiday
We aren't in a "no-mail" zone right now. The next big shutdown isn't until Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On that day, the blue trucks stay parked. But today? Today is a standard Friday.
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Standard service.
Regular routes.
If you are looking for UPS or FedEx, they are also running their usual Friday schedules. Unlike the post office, those private carriers don't even always close for the smaller federal holidays, so they are definitely out there today dodging puddles and ring cameras.
The "New Normal" for USPS in 2026
So, if the mail is running, why does it feel like it’s taking forever?
This is where things get a bit messy. If you haven't been following the news, the USPS is currently deep into its "Delivering for America" plan. Postmaster General David Steiner—who has been under a fair amount of heat lately from a group of 16 U.S. Senators—has overseen some radical changes in how mail is processed.
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Basically, they’ve cut down on how often mail moves from your local post office to the big regional hubs. Instead of trucks heading out twice a day, many locations now only have one dispatch.
Important Note: If you drop a letter in a blue box after the truck has already made its one and only daily pickup, that letter sits there until tomorrow.
This creates a "postmark lag." Even if you mail something today, Friday the 16th, it might not actually get stamped with a date until Saturday or even Monday. This is a huge deal for anyone sending in tax documents or mail-in ballots. Just yesterday, January 15, senators were sounding the alarm that these delays could actually disenfranchise voters because the postmark won't match the day you actually handed it over.
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If you're planning on heading to the post office today to send a package, you might want to get it done before the weekend is over.
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Starting this Sunday, January 18, 2026, USPS is hiking prices again. We’re looking at a roughly 6.6% increase for Priority Mail and a pretty steep 7.8% jump for Ground Advantage. If you’ve got a heavy box ready to go, sending it today versus Monday could literally save you a few bucks.
What to Do if Your Mail is Missing Today
If the sun is going down and your mail carrier hasn't swung by, don't panic. There are a few logistical reasons for this that have nothing to do with the calendar.
- Staffing Shortages: Many local branches are still struggling with "route pivoting," where one carrier has to cover parts of two different routes. This often means they don't get to the second half of the neighborhood until much later than usual.
- Weather Blocks: It’s mid-January. If you've got ice on your steps or a snowbank blocking your box, the carrier is actually instructed not to deliver for safety reasons.
- The Digital Ghost: Sometimes, the USPS "Informed Delivery" email shows you a scan of a letter that doesn't show up in your box until the next day. This happens when the piece is scanned at the distribution center but misses the truck to your local station.
Actionable Steps for Today
Since does mail run today is a green light, here is how you should handle your outgoing and incoming items:
- Check the Pickup Time: Don't trust the "daily" pickup. Look at the specific time listed on the blue box. If it says 2:00 PM and it’s currently 3:00 PM, your mail isn't moving until tomorrow.
- Request a Hand-Stamp: If you are mailing something today that must have today’s date (like a legal document or a bill), go inside to the counter. Ask the clerk to hand-cancel it. This ensures the postmark reflects January 16.
- Ship Packages Now: Avoid the January 18 price hike by getting your Priority Mail out the door before the Sunday reset.
- Clear the Path: If you're in a cold climate, make sure there's a clear, salted path to your box. Carriers are less likely to "brave the elements" if it looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Everything is moving today, just maybe a little slower than we'd like. Keep an eye on the clock, get those stamps on, and enjoy the fact that the post office is, at least for now, open for business.