Reading Room Document

Whether the United States Postal Service (Service) is an "Executive agency" within the meaning of Executive Order 12250. 45 Fed. Reg. 72995 (1980).

This document discusses whether the United States Postal Service should be considered an "Executive agency" under Executive Order 12250, which grants the Attorney General authority to coordinate nondiscrimination provisions. The conclusion reached is that the Postal Service should not be included as an "Executive agency" due to its unique status as an independent establishment of the executive branch, with insulation from control by the President. The document presents questions about the intent underlying the Order, the statutory authority to subject the Postal Service to the control of the Attorney General, and the lack of an explicit statement in the Order including the Postal Service. It also raises the issue of which statutes covered by the Order are applicable to the Postal Service.

July 29, 1981