Final answer:
The use of U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express for transmitting Secret and Top Secret material within the DoD is authorized only within the 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, which is true. This reflects the stringent protocols in place for handling sensitive information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that within the Department of Defense, the use of U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express for the transmission of Secret and Top Secret material is authorized only within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is True. For the safe and secure transportation of classified materials, certain protocols and services are designated to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of such sensitive information.
The USPS has been involved in various security measures, such as the installation of x-ray generators to irradiate suspicious mail, especially after the anthrax attacks. This process is meant to neutralize possible biological threats but does not authorize the USPS to handle Secret and Top Secret material without specific conditions. The Department of Defense has strict guidelines for the handling and transmission of classified materials to protect national security, and these guidelines restrict the use of USPS services for such materials to within specified domestic boundaries.
Additionally, the USPS has faced challenges throughout its history and evolution, from changes in technology and communication habits to political scrutiny and operational restructuring, which influence its operations but do not directly impact the protocols related to the handling of classified materials.