---
kind: "section"
citation: "39 U.S.C. § 406"
title: "39"
title_heading: "Postal Service"
number: "406"
heading: "Postal services at Armed Forces installations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/39/406"
units:
  - "Part I — General"
  - "Chapter 4 — General Authority"
---

# §406. Postal services at Armed Forces installations

- (a) The [Postal Service](/usc/39/102.md?p=1) 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](/usc/39/102.md?p=1) to perform [postal services](/usc/39/102.md?p=1) through personnel designated by them at or through branch post offices established under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section.
- (c)
  - (1) The Secretary of Defense shall authorize the use of a post office established under [subsection (a)](#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)](#a) for the purpose of use described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–375, Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 724; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title X, § 1056, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1593; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVIII, § 1806(a), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 688.)

## Notes

### 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.