Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-102

§406 Postal Services at Armed Forces Installations

Title 39 › PART I — GENERAL › CHAPTER 4 — GENERAL AUTHORITY › § 406

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Postal Service may open branch post offices at military and defense sites. The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation must set up arrangements so postal services there are provided by personnel they pick. For a branch post office outside the United States, the Secretary of Defense may let U.S. citizens employed by NATO who support U.S. forces use it only after a written determination that it is in the Department of Defense’s best interest and allowed by the host nation; no funds may be spent to establish, maintain, or expand a post office for that use.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §406

Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Postal Service may establish branch post offices at camps, posts, bases, or stations of the Armed Forces and at defense or other strategic installations.
(b)The Secretaries of Defense and Transportation shall make arrangements with the Postal Service to perform postal services through personnel designated by them at or through branch post offices established under subsection (a) of this section.
(c)(1)The Secretary of Defense shall authorize the use of a post office established under subsection (a) in a location outside the United States by citizens of the United States—
(A)who—
(i)are employed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
(ii)perform functions in support of the Armed Forces of the United States; and
(B)if the Secretary makes a written determination that such use is—
(i)in the best interests of the Department of Defense; and
(ii)otherwise authorized by applicable host nation law or agreement.
(2)No funds may be obligated or expended to establish, maintain, or expand a post office established under subsection (a) for the purpose of use described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “shall authorize the use” for “may authorize the use” in introductory provisions. 2019—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–92 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 406

Title 39, Postal Service

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102