Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Don’t use Postal Service property for personal reasons
Misusing Voyager cards, mobile devices and more can bring disciplinary actions
The Postal Service is reminding employees of their duty to properly use USPS property.
Voyager cards can only be used to buy fuel for a USPS vehicle — and, with permission, to pay for repairs or towing. Using a Voyager card to pay for gas for a personal vehicle or to pay for drinks and snacks is a crime.
Misusing a Voyager card can result in garnished wages, fines, firing or jail time. The Postal Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General monitor and audit the use of Voyager cards, and violators are routinely caught.
Travel cards cannot be used for personal expenses. Keeping travel cards separate from personal credit cards will avoid accidental mix-ups.
Employee identification badges are USPS property and should never be altered in any way or used by anyone other than the proper person.
Borrowing money from a cash drawer is a misuse of Postal Service funds, even if an employee intends to repay it.
USPS-issued electronic devices should only be used for authorized purposes. Employees can use these devices for limited personal reasons, such as scheduling a medical appointment or printing a two-page document.
Additionally, Postal Service devices cannot be used for gambling, running an outside business, partisan political activities or creating or sharing sexual content.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346.
Heroes
He rescued a customer after a painful fall
This letter carrier saved the day — and the cakes
Elkin, NC, Letter Carrier Daniel Mills was delivering mail recently when he saw through a glass front door a woman lying on the floor inside her home.
When Mills called out to her, she told him she was hurt.
The door was locked, so the Postal Service employee went around the house and entered through the back door.
When he tried to help the woman up, she cried out in pain, so he called 911. He then comforted her until paramedics arrived.
Mills also removed the woman’s cakes from her oven so they wouldn’t burn.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Feb. 8-14
Cold-weather injuries and a letter-writing renaissance made news
Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast for more winter appears to be panning out, so Link passed along USPS reminders about winter injuries and the importance of watching where you walk — valuable advice year-round but especially timely in icy weather.
There was also an admonition to follow cyber best practices, since a majority of data breaches are found to be caused by human error, a cautionary tale from the USPS Office of Inspector General about a former mail carrier sentenced to 15 years for drug trafficking; and a “Mailin’ It” podcast on a multimillion-dollar fraud in California.
We explored the history of Presidents Day, highlighted an Associated Press story about a revival of letter writing, examined a few Valentine’s Day postmarks and offered a look at the Year of the Horse video.
Link also shared the bittersweet story of Amanda Rogers and Scott Miller, who kept the area maintenance technician craft all in the family; “Off the Clock” profiled Mark Inglett, the strategic communications manager for Central Area who teaches martial arts to students young and old; and “People” highlighted the long career of Larry Schultz, a letter carrier in Lincoln, NE, who began his postal career in 1966.
Finally, “Heroes” spotlighted Daniel Mills, an Elkin, NC, letter carrier who rescued a woman who had fallen in her home — and also saved the cakes that were burning in the oven.
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Mail
Champing at the bit for new stamp
Reader praises story on Year of the Horse ceremony
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
February 24, 2026
Datebook
‘Preventative Care Guidelines’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that teaches the importance of preventative care and how to manage health issues.
The session, “Preventative Care Guidelines,” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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Don’t use Postal Service property for personal reasons
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Heroes
He rescued a customer after a painful fall
This letter carrier saved the day — and the cakes
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Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Feb. 8-14
Cold-weather injuries and a letter-writing renaissance made news
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Mail
Featured reader quote
“I was very interested in the story about the Year of the Horse stamp dedication. Horses are a passion of mine, and I also love Chinese dragons. I just placed my order!”
— Jessica Sanders, Tatamy, PA
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February24Datebook
‘Preventative Care Guidelines’