The White House has suggested that recent changes in how cremated remains are shipped might not be in effect for long.
As we previously reported, starting March 1, the U.S. Postal Service began requiring all cremated remains, as well as any items made from cremated remains like jewelry, stones, and other keepsakes, to be shipped in a USPS branded “Priority Mail Express Cremated Remains” box.
The USPS said that the mandate “aids in the safety and security of cremated remains shipments and increases visibility in processing and the importance of the package contents.”
But the change has faced criticism for increasing costs. While the required USPS box is free, the 10” x 10.25” x 14.75” container is more expensive to ship than smaller packages previously used by keepsake manufacturers and funeral homes shipping small amounts of cremated remains.
In a release touting the money saved as a result of President Donald Trump’s roll-back of “Biden-era regulations,” the White House described the USPS box mandate as one of the Biden administration’s “ridiculous regulations.”
While the USPS rule remains in place, the fact that the White House has flagged this “ridiculous regulation” as part of President Trump’s deregulatory agenda suggests that it may not be on the books for long.
If you have any questions about the shipping of cremated remains, please contact me at any time.
