Trump Appointee Shakes Up Postal Service Amid Mail-Delay Furor
WASHINGTON (CN) — Suffering losses of $9 billion last year and on track to do worse in 2020, the postmaster general on Friday announced a reorganization of the service and a freeze on executive hiring amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an impending election.Louis DeJoy, in the position for eight weeks, announced the reductions to overtime for operations but underlined that the U.S. Postal Service would maintain a “robust and proven process” as it prepares to deliver election mail for what is shaping up to be a largely absentee and mail-in venture due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” DeJoy said Friday.
The postmaster general has a favorable relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee. He previously served as the RNC convention chairman and donated more than $2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and assorted Republican ventures since the 2016 election. Trump also nominated DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, to serve as ambassador to Canada for the U.S.
In a stance largely attributed to Trump’s personal feud with Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, the president has openly criticized the U.S. Postal Service as inefficient for years. Just this past April, during a press conference at the White House in April, Trump labeled the service a “joke” and called for an increase in delivery rates of up to four times the current amount.
Bezos has drawn the president’s ire both for his incomparable wealth and his ownership of the Washington Post, a news outlet Trump has frequently harangued as a purveyor of “presidential harassment!”
With the hamstrung Postal Service on track to lose more than $11 billion this year, a handful of Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate called Friday on Tammy Whitcomb, the Postal Service inspector general, to begin an audit of DeJoy.
Sent weeks after House lawmakers passed an amendment to stop DeJoy’s realignment efforts, the letter is signed by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, the latter of whom became the first U.S. senator elected by an all-mail election in 1996.
The service has faced complaints of oppressive overtime forced on mail carriers in the past and increasingly sharper criticism for its decision earlier this year to permit delivery centers the right to delay mail if necessary for up to one day at processing facilities.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced Thursday he was initiating an investigation into complaints of widespread mail delays. Peters will have considerable leverage to pursue the probe as the ranking member of the powerful Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Trump regularly asserts without evidence that mail-in elections are prone to fraud. Citing the anticipated high volume of mail-in ballots, he suggested earlier this week the November election would be a “catastrophe.”
DeJoy’s changes are said to include cutbacks to overtime and, as documented by The New York Times and others, reports of carriers leaving mail behind on workroom floors or docks.
“Was Mr. DeJoy’s implementation of these changes consistent with the Postal Service’s internal policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, including requirements governing consultation with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and postal employees and customers?” the lawmakers asked in their letter to the administrator Friday.
DeJoy appeared to anticipate some pushback from legislators while speaking Friday to members of the Postal Service Governors Board.
“Rather than sensationalizing isolated operational incidents that I acknowledge can occur and have always occurred in a business of our size and scope or attempting to impose unfunded mandates unrelated to any postal policies, I ask members of Congress to take action on this one legislative burdensome issue that will actually make a difference,” he said.
Among their queries, Democrats are also probing potential conflicts of interest. DeJoy and his wife own anywhere from $30 million to $75 million worth of assets in competing delivery and shipment services like J.B. Hunt.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the postmaster general on Wednesday on Capitol Hill amid tense negotiations for the next round of Covid-19 relief. The House initially proposed a $25 billion infusion for the Postal Service — without a call for repayment — but have since pared back, now offering $10 billion loan from the Department of the Treasury.
U.S. lawmakers from both parties sound alarm on Postal Service changes blamed for delays
Complaints about backlogs come a few months ahead of election, expected increase in mail-in vote
The Associated Press · Posted: Aug 07, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, speak to media on Capitol Hill in Washington this week. The Democratic leaders are concerned about changes to the U.S. Postal Service in a year of pandemic and a general election. (Carolyn Kaster/The Associated Press)
Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by the new Republican postmaster general "threaten the timely delivery of mail — including medicines for seniors, paycheques for workers and absentee ballots for voters — that is essential to millions of Americans."
In separate letters, two Montana Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, also urged the Postal Service to reverse the July directive, which eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and mandates that mail be kept until the next day if distribution centres are running late.
And 84 House members — including four Republicans — signed yet another letter blasting the changes and urging an immediate reversal.
"This action, if not rescinded, will negatively impact mail delivery for Montanans and unacceptably increase the risk of late prescriptions, commercial products or bill delivery," Daines said Thursday in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
"Delaying mail service is unacceptable," Gianforte wrote to DeJoy. "Do not continue down this road."
In their letter, the 84 House members said it is "vital that the Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages."
The letter was led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York and the chair of the House's oversight committee, who has called on DeJoy to testify at a hearing on Sept. 17.
The flurry of letters came as Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on a Senate panel that oversees the Postal Service launched an investigation into the operational changes.
'Our financial picture is dire'
The cost-cutting measures, intended to address the Postal Service's longtime financial problems, were imposed last month after DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser and former supply chain executive, took over the top job in June.
DeJoy, 63, of North Carolina, is a major donor to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, as well as the husband of incoming U.S. ambassador to Canada, Aldona Wos.
DeJoy is the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who is not a career postal employee.
He offered a gloomy picture of the 630,00-employee agency Friday in his first public remarks since taking the top job in June.
"Our financial position is dire, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues," DeJoy told the postal board of governors at a meeting Friday.
"Without dramatic change, there is no end in sight," DeJoy said.
Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that changes imposed by the new Republican postmaster general "threaten the timely delivery of mail — including medicines for seniors, paycheques for workers and absentee ballots for voters — that is essential to millions of Americans."
In separate letters, two Montana Republicans, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, also urged the Postal Service to reverse the July directive, which eliminates overtime for hundreds of thousands of postal workers and mandates that mail be kept until the next day if distribution centres are running late.
And 84 House members — including four Republicans — signed yet another letter blasting the changes and urging an immediate reversal.
"This action, if not rescinded, will negatively impact mail delivery for Montanans and unacceptably increase the risk of late prescriptions, commercial products or bill delivery," Daines said Thursday in a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
"Delaying mail service is unacceptable," Gianforte wrote to DeJoy. "Do not continue down this road."
In their letter, the 84 House members said it is "vital that the Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages."
The letter was led by Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York and the chair of the House's oversight committee, who has called on DeJoy to testify at a hearing on Sept. 17.
The flurry of letters came as Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on a Senate panel that oversees the Postal Service launched an investigation into the operational changes.
'Our financial picture is dire'
The cost-cutting measures, intended to address the Postal Service's longtime financial problems, were imposed last month after DeJoy, a Republican fundraiser and former supply chain executive, took over the top job in June.
DeJoy, 63, of North Carolina, is a major donor to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, as well as the husband of incoming U.S. ambassador to Canada, Aldona Wos.
DeJoy is the first postmaster general in nearly two decades who is not a career postal employee.
He offered a gloomy picture of the 630,00-employee agency Friday in his first public remarks since taking the top job in June.
"Our financial position is dire, stemming from substantial declines in mail volume, a broken business model and a management strategy that has not adequately addressed these issues," DeJoy told the postal board of governors at a meeting Friday.
"Without dramatic change, there is no end in sight," DeJoy said.
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who took on the role in June, met with select lawmakers this week, but has yet to testify on apparent changes at the Postal Service. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
While package deliveries to homebound Americans were up more than 50 per cent, that was offset by continued declines in first-class and business mail, even as costs increased significantly to pay for personal protective equipment and replace workers who got sick or chose to stay home out of fear of the virus, DeJoy said.
In his first month on the job, DeJoy said he directed the agency to vigorously "focus on the ingrained inefficiencies in our operations," including by applying strict limits on overtime.
"By running our operations on time and on schedule, and by not incurring unnecessary overtime or other costs, we will enhance our ability to be sustainable and ... continue to provide high-quality, affordable service," DeJoy said.
While not acknowledging widespread complaints by members of Congress about delivery delays nationwide, DeJoy said the agency will "aggressively monitor and quickly address service issues."
In his remarks to the postal board of governors, DeJoy called election mail handling "a robust and proven process."
While there will "likely be an unprecedented increase in election mail volume due to the pandemic, the Postal Service has ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time in accordance with our delivery standards, and we will do so," DeJoy said.
"However ... we cannot correct the errors of [state and local] election boards if they fail to deploy processes that take our normal processing and delivery standards into account."
More money needed, Democrats say
In the Senate, Peters is asking the public to provide their stories about delays or other problems with deliveries.
"For 245 years, the Postal Service has worked to provide reliable, consistent and on-time delivery that keeps Americans connected no matter where they live — especially in rural areas," Peters said.
"Unfortunately, in recent weeks, I've heard firsthand from constituents, postal workers and local officials in Michigan who have encountered problems with the timely and dependable service they count on to conduct business, get prescription medications and critical supplies and even exercise their right to vote."
While package deliveries to homebound Americans were up more than 50 per cent, that was offset by continued declines in first-class and business mail, even as costs increased significantly to pay for personal protective equipment and replace workers who got sick or chose to stay home out of fear of the virus, DeJoy said.
In his first month on the job, DeJoy said he directed the agency to vigorously "focus on the ingrained inefficiencies in our operations," including by applying strict limits on overtime.
"By running our operations on time and on schedule, and by not incurring unnecessary overtime or other costs, we will enhance our ability to be sustainable and ... continue to provide high-quality, affordable service," DeJoy said.
While not acknowledging widespread complaints by members of Congress about delivery delays nationwide, DeJoy said the agency will "aggressively monitor and quickly address service issues."
In his remarks to the postal board of governors, DeJoy called election mail handling "a robust and proven process."
While there will "likely be an unprecedented increase in election mail volume due to the pandemic, the Postal Service has ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time in accordance with our delivery standards, and we will do so," DeJoy said.
"However ... we cannot correct the errors of [state and local] election boards if they fail to deploy processes that take our normal processing and delivery standards into account."
More money needed, Democrats say
In the Senate, Peters is asking the public to provide their stories about delays or other problems with deliveries.
"For 245 years, the Postal Service has worked to provide reliable, consistent and on-time delivery that keeps Americans connected no matter where they live — especially in rural areas," Peters said.
"Unfortunately, in recent weeks, I've heard firsthand from constituents, postal workers and local officials in Michigan who have encountered problems with the timely and dependable service they count on to conduct business, get prescription medications and critical supplies and even exercise their right to vote."
Letter carriers load mail trucks for deliveries at a U.S. Postal Service facility in McLean, Va., on July 31. Concerns have been expressed to changes in overtime and workload that may be slowing down mail delivery. (J. Scott Applewhite/The Associated Press)
Democrats have pushed for $10 billion US for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.
The figure is down from a $25-billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Key Republicans whose rural constituents are especially reliant on the post office support the idea.
Trump, a vocal critic of the Postal Service, contended Wednesday that "the Post Office doesn't have enough time" to handle a significant increase in mail-in ballots. "I mean you're talking about millions of votes. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen."
David Partenheimer, a spokesperson for the Postal Service, earlier in the week disputed reports that the Postal Service is slowing down election mail or any other mail.
While Democrats have been more vocal in their criticism, some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concern.
With her state's vast and difficult terrain, "the Postal Service is a primary source of knowledge, commerce and basic necessities," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska.
For Alaskans, she said additional help from Congress "is truly a necessity — not a convenience."
Republican Reps. Peter King of New York, David McKinley of West Virginia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Daniel Webster of Florida, meanwhile, joined the House letter, which was signed by 80 Democrats.
Democrats have pushed for $10 billion US for the Postal Service in talks with Republicans on a huge COVID-19 response bill.
The figure is down from a $25-billion plan in a House-passed coronavirus measure. Key Republicans whose rural constituents are especially reliant on the post office support the idea.
Trump, a vocal critic of the Postal Service, contended Wednesday that "the Post Office doesn't have enough time" to handle a significant increase in mail-in ballots. "I mean you're talking about millions of votes. It's a catastrophe waiting to happen."
David Partenheimer, a spokesperson for the Postal Service, earlier in the week disputed reports that the Postal Service is slowing down election mail or any other mail.
While Democrats have been more vocal in their criticism, some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concern.
With her state's vast and difficult terrain, "the Postal Service is a primary source of knowledge, commerce and basic necessities," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska.
For Alaskans, she said additional help from Congress "is truly a necessity — not a convenience."
Republican Reps. Peter King of New York, David McKinley of West Virginia, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Daniel Webster of Florida, meanwhile, joined the House letter, which was signed by 80 Democrats.
Trump Appointee Shakes Up Postal Service Amid Mail-Delay Furor
August 7, 2020 BRANDI BUCHMAN
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON (CN) — Suffering losses of $9 billion last year and on track to do worse in 2020, the postmaster general on Friday announced a reorganization of the service and a freeze on executive hiring amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an impending election.
Louis DeJoy, in the position for eight weeks, announced the reductions to overtime for operations but underlined that the U.S. Postal Service would maintain a “robust and proven process” as it prepares to deliver election mail for what is shaping up to be a largely absentee and mail-in venture due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” DeJoy said Friday.
The postmaster general has a favorable relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee. He previously served as the RNC convention chairman and donated more than $2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and assorted Republican ventures since the 2016 election. Trump also nominated DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, to serve as ambassador to Canada for the U.S.
In a stance largely attributed to Trump’s personal feud with Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, the president has openly criticized the U.S. Postal Service as inefficient for years. Just this past April, during a press conference at the White House in April, Trump labeled the service a “joke” and called for an increase in delivery rates of up to four times the current amount.
Bezos has drawn the president’s ire both for his incomparable wealth and his ownership of the Washington Post, a news outlet Trump has frequently harangued as a purveyor of “presidential harassment!”
With the hamstrung Postal Service on track to lose more than $11 billion this year, a handful of Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate called Friday on Tammy Whitcomb, the Postal Service inspector general, to begin an audit of DeJoy.
Sent weeks after House lawmakers passed an amendment to stop DeJoy’s realignment efforts, the letter is signed by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, the latter of whom became the first U.S. senator elected by an all-mail election in 1996.
The service has faced complaints of oppressive overtime forced on mail carriers in the past and increasingly sharper criticism for its decision earlier this year to permit delivery centers the right to delay mail if necessary for up to one day at processing facilities.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced Thursday he was initiating an investigation into complaints of widespread mail delays. Peters will have considerable leverage to pursue the probe as the ranking member of the powerful Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Trump regularly asserts without evidence that mail-in elections are prone to fraud. Citing the anticipated high volume of mail-in ballots, he suggested earlier this week the November election would be a “catastrophe.”
DeJoy’s changes are said to include cutbacks to overtime and, as documented by The New York Times and others, reports of carriers leaving mail behind on workroom floors or docks.
“Was Mr. DeJoy’s implementation of these changes consistent with the Postal Service’s internal policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, including requirements governing consultation with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and postal employees and customers?” the lawmakers asked in their letter to the administrator Friday.
DeJoy appeared to anticipate some pushback from legislators while speaking Friday to members of the Postal Service Governors Board.
“Rather than sensationalizing isolated operational incidents that I acknowledge can occur and have always occurred in a business of our size and scope or attempting to impose unfunded mandates unrelated to any postal policies, I ask members of Congress to take action on this one legislative burdensome issue that will actually make a difference,” he said.
Among their queries, Democrats are also probing potential conflicts of interest. DeJoy and his wife own anywhere from $30 million to $75 million worth of assets in competing delivery and shipment services like J.B. Hunt.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the postmaster general on Wednesday on Capitol Hill amid tense negotiations for the next round of Covid-19 relief. The House initially proposed a $25 billion infusion for the Postal Service — without a call for repayment — but have since pared back, now offering $10 billion loan from the Department of the Treasury.
Trump Appointee Shakes Up Postal Service Amid Mail-Delay Furor
WASHINGTON (CN) — Suffering losses of $9 billion last year and on track to do worse in 2020, the postmaster general on Friday announced a reorganization of the service and a freeze on executive hiring amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an impending election.
Louis DeJoy, in the position for eight weeks, announced the reductions to overtime for operations but underlined that the U.S. Postal Service would maintain a “robust and proven process” as it prepares to deliver election mail for what is shaping up to be a largely absentee and mail-in venture due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” DeJoy said Friday.
The postmaster general has a favorable relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee. He previously served as the RNC convention chairman and donated more than $2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and assorted Republican ventures since the 2016 election. Trump also nominated DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, to serve as ambassador to Canada for the U.S.
In a stance largely attributed to Trump’s personal feud with Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, the president has openly criticized the U.S. Postal Service as inefficient for years. Just this past April, during a press conference at the White House in April, Trump labeled the service a “joke” and called for an increase in delivery rates of up to four times the current amount.
Bezos has drawn the president’s ire both for his incomparable wealth and his ownership of the Washington Post, a news outlet Trump has frequently harangued as a purveyor of “presidential harassment!”
With the hamstrung Postal Service on track to lose more than $11 billion this year, a handful of Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate called Friday on Tammy Whitcomb, the Postal Service inspector general, to begin an audit of DeJoy.
Sent weeks after House lawmakers passed an amendment to stop DeJoy’s realignment efforts, the letter is signed by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, the latter of whom became the first U.S. senator elected by an all-mail election in 1996.
The service has faced complaints of oppressive overtime forced on mail carriers in the past and increasingly sharper criticism for its decision earlier this year to permit delivery centers the right to delay mail if necessary for up to one day at processing facilities.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced Thursday he was initiating an investigation into complaints of widespread mail delays. Peters will have considerable leverage to pursue the probe as the ranking member of the powerful Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Trump regularly asserts without evidence that mail-in elections are prone to fraud. Citing the anticipated high volume of mail-in ballots, he suggested earlier this week the November election would be a “catastrophe.”
DeJoy’s changes are said to include cutbacks to overtime and, as documented by The New York Times and others, reports of carriers leaving mail behind on workroom floors or docks.
“Was Mr. DeJoy’s implementation of these changes consistent with the Postal Service’s internal policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, including requirements governing consultation with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and postal employees and customers?” the lawmakers asked in their letter to the administrator Friday.
DeJoy appeared to anticipate some pushback from legislators while speaking Friday to members of the Postal Service Governors Board.
“Rather than sensationalizing isolated operational incidents that I acknowledge can occur and have always occurred in a business of our size and scope or attempting to impose unfunded mandates unrelated to any postal policies, I ask members of Congress to take action on this one legislative burdensome issue that will actually make a difference,” he said.
Among their queries, Democrats are also probing potential conflicts of interest. DeJoy and his wife own anywhere from $30 million to $75 million worth of assets in competing delivery and shipment services like J.B. Hunt.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the postmaster general on Wednesday on Capitol Hill amid tense negotiations for the next round of Covid-19 relief. The House initially proposed a $25 billion infusion for the Postal Service — without a call for repayment — but have since pared back, now offering $10 billion loan from the Department of the Treasury.
Trump Appointee Shakes Up Postal Service Amid Mail-Delay Furor
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON (CN) — Suffering losses of $9 billion last year and on track to do worse in 2020, the postmaster general on Friday announced a reorganization of the service and a freeze on executive hiring amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an impending election.
Louis DeJoy, in the position for eight weeks, announced the reductions to overtime for operations but underlined that the U.S. Postal Service would maintain a “robust and proven process” as it prepares to deliver election mail for what is shaping up to be a largely absentee and mail-in venture due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” DeJoy said Friday.
The postmaster general has a favorable relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee. He previously served as the RNC convention chairman and donated more than $2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and assorted Republican ventures since the 2016 election. Trump also nominated DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, to serve as ambassador to Canada for the U.S.
In a stance largely attributed to Trump’s personal feud with Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, the president has openly criticized the U.S. Postal Service as inefficient for years. Just this past April, during a press conference at the White House in April, Trump labeled the service a “joke” and called for an increase in delivery rates of up to four times the current amount.
Bezos has drawn the president’s ire both for his incomparable wealth and his ownership of the Washington Post, a news outlet Trump has frequently harangued as a purveyor of “presidential harassment!”
With the hamstrung Postal Service on track to lose more than $11 billion this year, a handful of Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate called Friday on Tammy Whitcomb, the Postal Service inspector general, to begin an audit of DeJoy.
Sent weeks after House lawmakers passed an amendment to stop DeJoy’s realignment efforts, the letter is signed by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, the latter of whom became the first U.S. senator elected by an all-mail election in 1996.
The service has faced complaints of oppressive overtime forced on mail carriers in the past and increasingly sharper criticism for its decision earlier this year to permit delivery centers the right to delay mail if necessary for up to one day at processing facilities.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced Thursday he was initiating an investigation into complaints of widespread mail delays. Peters will have considerable leverage to pursue the probe as the ranking member of the powerful Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Trump regularly asserts without evidence that mail-in elections are prone to fraud. Citing the anticipated high volume of mail-in ballots, he suggested earlier this week the November election would be a “catastrophe.”
DeJoy’s changes are said to include cutbacks to overtime and, as documented by The New York Times and others, reports of carriers leaving mail behind on workroom floors or docks.
“Was Mr. DeJoy’s implementation of these changes consistent with the Postal Service’s internal policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, including requirements governing consultation with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and postal employees and customers?” the lawmakers asked in their letter to the administrator Friday.
DeJoy appeared to anticipate some pushback from legislators while speaking Friday to members of the Postal Service Governors Board.
“Rather than sensationalizing isolated operational incidents that I acknowledge can occur and have always occurred in a business of our size and scope or attempting to impose unfunded mandates unrelated to any postal policies, I ask members of Congress to take action on this one legislative burdensome issue that will actually make a difference,” he said.
Among their queries, Democrats are also probing potential conflicts of interest. DeJoy and his wife own anywhere from $30 million to $75 million worth of assets in competing delivery and shipment services like J.B. Hunt.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the postmaster general on Wednesday on Capitol Hill amid tense negotiations for the next round of Covid-19 relief. The House initially proposed a $25 billion infusion for the Postal Service — without a call for repayment — but have since pared back, now offering $10 billion loan from the Department of the Treasury.
Top Trump Donor Named Next Postmaster General May 6, 2020 In "Government"
WASHINGTON (CN) — Suffering losses of $9 billion last year and on track to do worse in 2020, the postmaster general on Friday announced a reorganization of the service and a freeze on executive hiring amid the Covid-19 pandemic and an impending election.
Louis DeJoy, in the position for eight weeks, announced the reductions to overtime for operations but underlined that the U.S. Postal Service would maintain a “robust and proven process” as it prepares to deliver election mail for what is shaping up to be a largely absentee and mail-in venture due to the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” DeJoy said Friday.
The postmaster general has a favorable relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee. He previously served as the RNC convention chairman and donated more than $2 million to the Trump Victory Fund and assorted Republican ventures since the 2016 election. Trump also nominated DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, to serve as ambassador to Canada for the U.S.
In a stance largely attributed to Trump’s personal feud with Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, the president has openly criticized the U.S. Postal Service as inefficient for years. Just this past April, during a press conference at the White House in April, Trump labeled the service a “joke” and called for an increase in delivery rates of up to four times the current amount.
Bezos has drawn the president’s ire both for his incomparable wealth and his ownership of the Washington Post, a news outlet Trump has frequently harangued as a purveyor of “presidential harassment!”
With the hamstrung Postal Service on track to lose more than $11 billion this year, a handful of Democrat lawmakers in both the House and Senate called Friday on Tammy Whitcomb, the Postal Service inspector general, to begin an audit of DeJoy.
Sent weeks after House lawmakers passed an amendment to stop DeJoy’s realignment efforts, the letter is signed by House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, the latter of whom became the first U.S. senator elected by an all-mail election in 1996.
The service has faced complaints of oppressive overtime forced on mail carriers in the past and increasingly sharper criticism for its decision earlier this year to permit delivery centers the right to delay mail if necessary for up to one day at processing facilities.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced Thursday he was initiating an investigation into complaints of widespread mail delays. Peters will have considerable leverage to pursue the probe as the ranking member of the powerful Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Trump regularly asserts without evidence that mail-in elections are prone to fraud. Citing the anticipated high volume of mail-in ballots, he suggested earlier this week the November election would be a “catastrophe.”
DeJoy’s changes are said to include cutbacks to overtime and, as documented by The New York Times and others, reports of carriers leaving mail behind on workroom floors or docks.
“Was Mr. DeJoy’s implementation of these changes consistent with the Postal Service’s internal policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, including requirements governing consultation with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and postal employees and customers?” the lawmakers asked in their letter to the administrator Friday.
DeJoy appeared to anticipate some pushback from legislators while speaking Friday to members of the Postal Service Governors Board.
“Rather than sensationalizing isolated operational incidents that I acknowledge can occur and have always occurred in a business of our size and scope or attempting to impose unfunded mandates unrelated to any postal policies, I ask members of Congress to take action on this one legislative burdensome issue that will actually make a difference,” he said.
Among their queries, Democrats are also probing potential conflicts of interest. DeJoy and his wife own anywhere from $30 million to $75 million worth of assets in competing delivery and shipment services like J.B. Hunt.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer met with the postmaster general on Wednesday on Capitol Hill amid tense negotiations for the next round of Covid-19 relief. The House initially proposed a $25 billion infusion for the Postal Service — without a call for repayment — but have since pared back, now offering $10 billion loan from the Department of the Treasury.
Top Trump Donor Named Next Postmaster General May 6, 2020 In "Government"
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