A handwritten note taped to the glass doors read simply: Closed — Presidents’ Day.
For millions of Americans on February 16, 2026, that message is the only sign they’ll get. The United States Postal Service has confirmed that every one of its more than 33,700 retail locations across the country is closed today, triggering a full 24-hour pause in in-person operations.
It’s not an emergency. It’s not a strike. It’s Presidents’ Day.
But for anyone rushing to overnight a legal document, ship an Etsy order, or send a last-minute birthday package, the effect feels the same: no counter service, no window hours, no clerks behind the glass.
A Nationwide Pause
Presidents’ Day is one of several federal holidays observed by USPS each year, in alignment with the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule. As a result, retail counters remain dark from coast to coast on February 16.
That means no in-person help with shipping, no passport services, and no over-the-counter mail acceptance for the day.
For small business owners who rely on daily drop-offs, the disruption can be significant. For customers who planned poorly, it can feel like a wall.
But the blackout isn’t total.
What’s Still Working Today
While the front counters are closed, parts of the postal system remain very much alive.
Many post office lobbies still offer 24/7 access to self-service kiosks. These machines can:
- Print postage for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express
- Handle certain international shipments
- Sell books of stamps
- Weigh letters and packages
- Provide tracking updates
At modernized locations, customers may also find Rapid Drop-off Stations — designed for those who already created and printed labels online. Instead of waiting in line, you simply scan and drop.
Some kiosks now allow customers to print shipping labels using merchant-provided QR codes, eliminating the need for a home printer.
And in select areas, USPS Smart Lockers remain operational, allowing package pickup and drop-off without ever speaking to an employee.
“Many self-service kiosks are available 24/7,” USPS has emphasized, noting that customers can still complete essential mailing tasks even while retail windows are closed.
Online Never Closes
For those who prefer to avoid the parking lot entirely, USPS.com remains fully operational today.
Customers can:
- Schedule package pickups
- Print shipping labels
- Purchase postage
- Track shipments
- Order free shipping supplies
What you can’t do today is walk up to a staffed counter and ask for help.
Why It Matters
For some Americans, Presidents’ Day is just a long weekend. For others, it’s a reminder of how deeply woven the postal system is into daily life.
The USPS delivers to nearly every address in the country — more than 160 million homes and businesses — six days a week. When retail counters go dark, even briefly, it exposes how many people still depend on physical access.
E-commerce sellers are adjusting shipping timelines. Families mailing time-sensitive paperwork. Seniors paying bills by mail.
A one-day closure may be routine on paper. In real life, it changes plans.
What Happens Next
Retail locations are expected to resume normal hours on Tuesday, February 17.
Regular mail delivery schedules will also continue following the holiday observance.
Until then, customers planning urgent shipments should rely on kiosk services or online tools—or wait until tomorrow when the lights flip back on and the doors reopen.
For now, across America, the familiar hum of the postal counter has gone quiet.
And it won’t return until morning.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.