"The Postal Service has said they're going to continue to pay its employees and they're going to continue to pay their bills and pay their subcontractors. So in some respects this default is largely symbolic," Jennifer Liberto from CNNMoney.com said.
"I think there's gotta be some closings and consolidation. That's modernization. It just doesn't need to be as draconian and as quickly done as is what is necessary right now," Cliff Guffey of the American Postal Workers Union said.
The Senate has passed legislation to help shore up the service's finances, but the House has yet to act.
The Postal Service is already shutting down some processing plants and wants to end Saturday service to save money.
