NBC NATIONAL NEWS — The U.S. Postal Service is backing off a previous plan to close 13,000 rural post offices.

Instead, it will cut hours at the facilities in an effort to save $500 million a year.

The move is in response to a backlash against the massive closures.

The agency also plans to force thousands of employees to shift to part-time hours from their current full-time positions.

Under the plan announced today, some rural post offices will only have two to six hours of window service each day.