Mrvan Sends Letter to United States Postal Service to Address Winfield CPU Closure

Washington, DC – On July 30, 2025, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan sent a letter to United States Postmaster General David Steiner regarding the recently announced termination of the Contract Postal Unit (CPU) located in Winfield, Indiana. 

Congressman Mrvan stated, “The planned closure of the Winfield CPU could hinder my constituents’ ability to access convenient, reliable, and efficient postal services. I urge Postmaster General Steiner to clarify the Postal Service’s reasoning for the termination of the Winfield CPU contract, provide a public comment period to allow community members to express their concerns, and reconsider this decision.” 

The text of the letter is below and a pdf is available here.

Dear Postmaster General Steiner, 

I write to you regarding the Winfield Contract Postal Unit (CPU) located at 8380 E. 109th Ave in Crown Point, Indiana, which has received a notice of termination slated for September 30, 2025.  I am concerned that this planned closure could hinder my constituents’ ability to access convenient, reliable, and efficient postal services.  I urge USPS to clarify its reasoning for the termination of the Winfield CPU contract, provide a public comment period to allow community members to express their concerns, and reconsider this decision. 

Specifically, the owners of the building hosting the Winfield CPU received a letter, dated May 30, 2025, providing a 120-day written termination notice for the location.  As supplier-owned and operated sites under contract to USPS, CPUs are a cost-effective way to ensure customers have access to convenient and reliable postal services and products.  The Winfield CPU was initially opened in the late 1990s and was housed within the former Fagen Pharmacy, before that location was closed in 2017 with the closure of the pharmacy.  The CPU then reopened in 2021 following a successful public petition process and currently provides convenient postal services to approximately 15,000 residents in Winfield Township. 

I am worried that this closure would reduce my constituents’ access to effective, nearby postal services, and that it could consequently increase wait times and strain customer service capacity at the Leroy and Boone Grove post offices.  The impact of this decision could reverberate outside of Winfield Township, with the Union Township post office remaining closed since 2023. 

Following community opposition to the planned closure of the CPU, on June 6, 2025, I sent USPS an initial inquiry requesting a justification for this decision.  In response, USPS sent my office a letter noting that the agency has determined “there is no longer a compelling business or service rationale to continue the contract” and framing the Winfield CPU closure as part of the Postal Service’s efforts to “improve its efficiency” and “control costs.”  Given this response, I request that you immediately provide the following information:

1. Why was the Winfield CPU specifically selected for termination? Is this an isolated incident, or is it part of a wider USPS effort to terminate CPU contracts?
2. Given USPS’ stated goal to improve “efficiency,” what is the projected economic impact of the Winfield CPU closure on USPS? This should include specific anticipated cost and revenue savings and losses.
3. What are the current average wait times for customers at the Leroy and Boone Grove post offices, and how is the closure of the Winfield CPU expected to affect wait times?
4. Local elected officials in Winfield Township have expressed their concerns that USPS is also having discussions about closing the Leroy Post Office, which would significantly exacerbate the impact of the Winfield CPU closure.  Can you provide assurances regarding the continued operation of the Leroy post office and other nearby post offices operating in Indiana’s First Congressional District?
5. While there is no statutory requirement that USPS provide a public comment period before CPU closures, I believe it is critical to gather stakeholder input and conduct an impact assessment before proceeding with this decision.
   1. What, if any, stakeholder input did USPS gather before providing notice of termination for the Winfield CPU?
   2. Before finalizing this decision, can USPS commit to holding a 30-day public comment period to allow customers, small business owners, and local elected officials to express their views on this matter?

On behalf of my constituents, I urge you to provide detailed answers to the above questions, conduct a stakeholder-driven impact assessment of this decision, and reconsider the planned closure of the Winfield CPU.  I look forward to your prompt response, and stand ready to work together to ensure continued access to efficient, reliable, and convenient postal services for residents of Indiana’s First Congressional District.

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