Rep. Roy Demands Answers from USPS about Blanco, TX Post Office Closure

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Chip Roy sent the following letter to Postmaster General David Steiner following the sudden closure of the Blanco Post Office:

Dear Postmaster General Steiner,

On May 23, 2026, my office became aware that the Blanco Post Office would be closing. My staff immediately contacted both the USPS Rio Grande District Office in San Antonio and USPS headquarters in Washington, D.C. We were informed that the lease for the Blanco Post Office had not been renewed by the property owners and that the lease had expired in February.

My staff continued to correspond with USPS staff and were eventually informed that mail service for Blanco residents would be transferred to the Johnson City Post Office. Since then, my office has received numerous complaints from constituents.

I have also learned that the current owners of the Blanco Post Office property purchased the building more than two years ago and informed USPS at that time that they did not intend to renew the lease. If that is the case, USPS had more than two years to identify and secure an alternative location within the City of Blanco.

Given these circumstances, I respectfully request you provide answers to the following questions by June 12, 2026:

1. When was USPS first made aware of the new property owner's desire not to renew the Blanco Post Office's lease?

   a. Please provide a comprehensive timeline of when and what information was communicated between the parties about the lease's renewal status.

2. If USPS knew the lease would not be renewed, and was aware as early as February that the facility would close, why were Blanco residents not provided adequate notice before the May 29 closure?

   a. Please provide a comprehensive timeline and receipts of the earliest to final notices widely distributed to the Blanco community regarding the closure of the Blanco Post Office.

3. Additionally, why was my office not notified through official channels prior to the closure so that we could assist constituents and communicate accurate information to the Blanco community?

4. What are USPS's plans to re-establish a full-service post office within the City of Blanco?

   a. Please provide a comprehensive timeline for implementation and any relevant details regarding site selection and service restoration for the Blanco Community.

The receipt of this news with little advanced notice on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend and no clear path forward has left the Blanco community in a precarious position without reasonable access to basic postal services. As you can imagine, Blanco residents are understandably frustrated.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to working together to ensure the residents of Blanco continue to receive reliable postal services.

Sincerely,

Chip Roy

Member of Congress