S. 5163 – No Bonuses for Bad Service Act

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Updated September 17, 2026 at 4:43 AM UTC

The No Bonuses for Bad Service Act would stop the Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General from receiving any bonus or extra pay in a fiscal year when the United States Postal Service does not meet key performance or financial standards. Specifically, bonuses are barred if the USPS fails to achieve at least a 95% on‑time delivery rate for each target in market‑dominant product categories, or if the service runs a deficit after having a surplus (or exceeds a prior deficit). The bill also adds a reporting requirement to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Key Provisions

Governors may not approve bonuses for the Postmaster General if the USPS does not meet or exceed a 95% on‑time delivery performance for each market‑dominant product category in that fiscal year.
The same bonus restriction applies to the Deputy Postmaster General under the same delivery performance criteria.
Bonuses are also prohibited for either official if the USPS runs a deficit after a prior surplus, or exceeds any deficit from the previous fiscal year.
Section 2804(a) is amended to require that the related report be submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 570.

September 14, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 29, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

July 29, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

August 6, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

September 14, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 570.

September 14, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued September 14, 2026

II

Calendar No. 570

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5163

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 29, 2026

Mr. Hawley (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

September 14, 2026

Reported by Mr. Paul, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To amend title 39, United States Code, to prevent the awarding of bonuses to the Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General for a fiscal year in which the United States Postal Service does not meet or exceed each on-time mail delivery target, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act.

2.

Restriction of Bonuses for Postmaster General

(a)

Bonus Prerequisites

Section 202 of title 39, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new sentence: The Governors shall not approve any bonus, award, or other monetary compensation beyond basic pay for the Postmaster General for any fiscal year in which the Postal Service does not meet or exceed a 95 percent on-time delivery performance for each on-time delivery target set for a market-dominant product category.; and

(2)

in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new sentence: The Governors shall not approve any bonus, award, or other monetary compensation beyond basic pay for the Deputy Postmaster General for any fiscal year in which the Postal Service does not meet or exceed 95 percent on-time delivery performance for each on-time delivery target set for a market-dominant product category..

(b)

Report Submission

Section 2804(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting and submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission before the period.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Bonuses for Bad Service Act.

2.

Restriction of Bonuses for Postmaster General

(a)

Bonus Prerequisites

Section 202 of title 39, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The Governors shall not approve any bonus, award, or other monetary compensation beyond basic pay for the Postmaster General for any fiscal year in which—

(1)

the Postal Service does not meet or exceed 95 percent on-time delivery performance for each on-time delivery target set for a market-dominant product category; or

(2)

the Postal Service exceeded any deficit ran in the prior fiscal year, or ran a deficit where the Postal Service ran a surplus in the prior fiscal year.

; and

(2)

in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The Governors shall not approve any bonus, award, or other monetary compensation beyond basic pay for the Deputy Postmaster General for any fiscal year in which—

(1)

the Postal Service does not meet or exceed 95 percent on-time delivery performance for each on-time delivery target set for a market-dominant product category; or

(2)

the Postal Service exceeded any deficit ran in the prior fiscal year, or ran a deficit where the Postal Service ran a surplus in the prior fiscal year.

.

(b)

Report Submission

Section 2804(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting and submitted to the Postal Regulatory Commission before the period.

September 14, 2026

Reported with an amendment