Juneteenth, June 19, 2023 – Are USPS, UPS, FedEx Open Today?

Juneteenth is an official federal holiday in the United States, marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Observed annually on June 19th, the holiday acknowledges the pivotal moment in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Texas, delivering the long-awaited news of freedom to enslaved individuals, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

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The day became a federal holiday in 2021, recognizing the national importance of Juneteenth’s historical significance in the U.S.

On Juneteenth, most government offices, the United States Postal Service, banks, and some businesses are closed. Here is what it means for ecommerce merchants shipping today:

USPS

What is closed today or not operational today at USPS?

• No counter operations at retail post offices around the country.
• No regular mail delivery.
• No regular mail pick-up.
• No mail pickup from USPS mailboxes.
• No USPS phone customer service.

What is open or operational today at USPS?

• Access PO Boxes at most locations, if separated area from counter operations/lobby.
• Use self-service machines at most locations, if separated area from counter operations/lobby.
• Online USPS Click-N-Ship is fully functional.
• Inside and outside USPS mailboxes are open 24/7 – but outside boxes could become full at busy post office locations.

Don’t forget to check our domestic and international USPS updates on delivery disruptions and suspensions.

UPS

Business as usual, the company is making pick-ups and deliveries today.

FedEx

Business as usual, the company is making pick-ups and deliveries today.

Amazon

Business as usual, the company is making deliveries today.

Tips for Sellers on June 19, 2023, Juneteenth

Today can be tricky for online sellers, as international buyers may think this is a normal business day. Here are some tips on how to deal with shipments on Juneteenth.

You may process shipments as usual, but a good practice is to notify buyers that today is a federal holiday in the U.S. and USPS is not operating today.

If you process orders, buyers will still receive a tracking number, but by notifying them that today is a federal holiday in the United States, they will not expect to see any USPS movement scans until Tuesday.

If you are using USPS Scan Forms, the best practice is to close out the day as usual. Some shipping platforms may not allow this or may allow rolling over today’s shipments to the next business day. Check with them for details.

eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, PayPal, and other platforms that offer their own platform-based shipping services will process USPS labels on Juneteenth. However, most will not inform buyers that today is a federal holiday in their tracking notifications.

Federal / USPS Holidays in 2023

Looking ahead, here is a list of the remaining federal and postal holidays in 2023, with the next federal holiday just about a month away.

• Tuesday, July 4 – Independence Day
• Monday, September 4 – Labor Day
• Monday, October 9 – Columbus Day
• Friday, November 10 (observed) – Veterans Day (observed)
• Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Day
• Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day
• Monday, January 1, 2024 – New Year’s Day

* Veterans Day, November 1, 2023, falls on a Saturday this year and when this occurs, workers at government agencies receive the preceding Friday as their day off.