As DeJoy Quits, Critics Fear GOP-Led Postal Board Will 'Find Someone Worse'
"The fact that Louis DeJoy still has a job is a failure of the Biden administration," said former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner.
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is seen here in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on May 16, 2024.
(Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Brett Wilkins
Feb 18, 2025
COMMON DREAMS
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is asking the United States Postal Service Board of Governors to begin selecting his successor, signaling the approaching end of his controversial tenure and stoking fears that, influenced by President Donald Trump—who says he's considering privatizing the federal agency—the Republican-dominated board will choose an even more contentious replacement.
"While there remains much critical work to be done to ensure that the Postal Service can be financially viable as we continue to serve the nation in our essential public service mission, I have decided it is time to start the process of identifying my successor and of preparing the Postal Service for this change," DeJoy said in a statement Tuesday.
"After four-and-a-half years leading one of America's greatest public institutions through dramatic change during unusual times, it is time for me to start thinking about the next phase of my life, while also ensuring that the Postal Service is fully prepared for the future," he added.
In response, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds said that DeJoy "has steadfastly served the nation and the Postal Service over the past five years" and hailed "his enduring leadership and his tireless efforts to modernize the Postal Service and reverse decades of neglect."
However, DeJoy's tenure has been marred by allegations of criminal election obstruction, conflicts of interest, and other corruption. Critics also decried Delivering for America, a 10-year austerity plan that opponents said put the USPS on a fast track toward slower service, job cuts, and, ultimately, privatization. The plan also contains the currently delayed consolidation of USPS facilities, a policy opposed by 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union (APWU).
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is asking the United States Postal Service Board of Governors to begin selecting his successor, signaling the approaching end of his controversial tenure and stoking fears that, influenced by President Donald Trump—who says he's considering privatizing the federal agency—the Republican-dominated board will choose an even more contentious replacement.
"While there remains much critical work to be done to ensure that the Postal Service can be financially viable as we continue to serve the nation in our essential public service mission, I have decided it is time to start the process of identifying my successor and of preparing the Postal Service for this change," DeJoy said in a statement Tuesday.
"After four-and-a-half years leading one of America's greatest public institutions through dramatic change during unusual times, it is time for me to start thinking about the next phase of my life, while also ensuring that the Postal Service is fully prepared for the future," he added.
In response, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds said that DeJoy "has steadfastly served the nation and the Postal Service over the past five years" and hailed "his enduring leadership and his tireless efforts to modernize the Postal Service and reverse decades of neglect."
However, DeJoy's tenure has been marred by allegations of criminal election obstruction, conflicts of interest, and other corruption. Critics also decried Delivering for America, a 10-year austerity plan that opponents said put the USPS on a fast track toward slower service, job cuts, and, ultimately, privatization. The plan also contains the currently delayed consolidation of USPS facilities, a policy opposed by 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union (APWU).
DeJoy—who had no previous USPS experience and came directly to the agency from the board of a privately owned competitor—was a major donor to Trump and the Republican National Committee before being installed as postmaster general in May 2020 by Trump-appointed members of the USPS Board of Governors.
While DeJoy detractors hoped that former President Joe Biden would fire the embattled postmaster general after winning the White House in 2020, he enjoyed a surprising second act during Biden's tenure. He embraced fleet electrification, although he was later accused of "dragging his feet" on the EV rollout and for his efforts to cut tens of thousands of jobs, consolidate operations, and hike customer prices. For example, the price of a first-class postage stamp was 55 cents when DeJoy entered office. Now it's 73 cents.
Trump's return has also brought back the specter of postal privatization. The Republican president has repeatedly said that his administration is considering privatization. During Trump's first term, his Office of Management and Budget recommended that the USPS—a constitutionally sanctioned agency with more than 600,000 employees—be privatized.
Pro-privatization GOP lawmakers have called on Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency( DOGE) to find ways to stem USPS financial shortcomings, which approached $10 billion last fiscal year, largely due to mandated pension contributions it is forced to pay each year. But the USPS also raked in $79.5 billion in revenue last year, and pro-privatizers are keen for a piece of that action.
"DOGE is a question of billionaire oligarchs trying to figure out how to get more money into their private profits. So all of this stuff about efficiency is really a cover for that, and that also carries over to those who want to privatize the Post Office," APWU president Mark Dimondstein told Mother Jones' Alex Nguyen in an interview published in the magazine's March-April edition.
"The Post Office takes in about $80 billion a year in revenue," Dimondstein added. "Those on the private side of the industry want their hands on that money because when it's in the public domain, they can't use it to generate private profits."
Some observers questioned the timing of DeJoy's planned departure, while others fear he "will be replaced by someone somehow undoubtedly even worse," as one social media commentator put it.
DeJoy's successor will be chosen by a USPS Board of Governors made up of three Republicans, two Democrats, and one independent member.
Brian Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers—which is locked in a contract battle with USPS management—said Tuesday that "in its search for the next USPS leader, NALC urges the Board of Governors to seek out an individual with the necessary experience and expertise to lead the agency at this critical time."
"We need someone who values the workforce and is committed to preserving and improving universal service," the union added. "The Postal Service is older than our country and is mandated in the Constitution. The next postmaster general must guarantee that letter carriers can continue safely performing their constitutionally mandated service in every community nationwide."
Critics cheer Trump postmaster general’s resignation after 'turbulent five-year tenure'
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in 2020 (Wikimedia Commons)
February 18, 2025
ALTERNET
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's five-year association with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is coming to an end. CBS News' Kate Gibson, on Tuesday, February 18, reported that DeJoy is leaving the agency.
DeJoy, however, did not announce a departure date, and according to Gibson, he will remain as postmaster general until a replacement is chosen.
DeJoy was hired for that position in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. Critics of DeJoy, who say that mail delivery in the United States suffered under his watch, hoped for his departure after Joe Biden became president in January 2021. But DeJoy maintained the postmaster general position throughout Biden's presidency.
DeJoy's resignation is inspiring plenty of reactions on X, formerly Twitter.
Matt Stoller of EconomicLiberties.us commented, "Joe Biden was so lazy he never got rid of Trump's Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who gutted the Post Office. Now DeJoy is leaving so Trump can appoint a new Postmaster General, and if the Democrats win again, they can retain that guy too until the Post Office is a single clerk."
Democratic strategist Max Burns tweeted, "Ironically Donald Trump has now done what Joe Biden couldn't — getting rid of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy."
The Wall Street Journal noted that DeJoy's departure follows a "turbulent five-year tenure."
Journalist Liz Morton noted, "PMG Louis DeJoy informs Postal Service Governors it's time to find a successor as he looks to pass USPS Delivering For America torch to new leadership."
Producer Sharlette Hambrick remarked, "Stepping aside for privatization of the postal service."
X user Kathleen Hubbell wrote, "Probably going to give the post to the CEO of FedEx."
Another X user, Mary Argos, complained, "I just stood in line at our little post office for 30 minutes, and there were two people ahead of me. I had to leave before buying my stamps. There was a line out the door. One employee running the whole office!
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's five-year association with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is coming to an end. CBS News' Kate Gibson, on Tuesday, February 18, reported that DeJoy is leaving the agency.
DeJoy, however, did not announce a departure date, and according to Gibson, he will remain as postmaster general until a replacement is chosen.
DeJoy was hired for that position in 2020 during President Donald Trump's first term. Critics of DeJoy, who say that mail delivery in the United States suffered under his watch, hoped for his departure after Joe Biden became president in January 2021. But DeJoy maintained the postmaster general position throughout Biden's presidency.
DeJoy's resignation is inspiring plenty of reactions on X, formerly Twitter.
Matt Stoller of EconomicLiberties.us commented, "Joe Biden was so lazy he never got rid of Trump's Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who gutted the Post Office. Now DeJoy is leaving so Trump can appoint a new Postmaster General, and if the Democrats win again, they can retain that guy too until the Post Office is a single clerk."
Democratic strategist Max Burns tweeted, "Ironically Donald Trump has now done what Joe Biden couldn't — getting rid of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy."
The Wall Street Journal noted that DeJoy's departure follows a "turbulent five-year tenure."
Journalist Liz Morton noted, "PMG Louis DeJoy informs Postal Service Governors it's time to find a successor as he looks to pass USPS Delivering For America torch to new leadership."
Producer Sharlette Hambrick remarked, "Stepping aside for privatization of the postal service."
X user Kathleen Hubbell wrote, "Probably going to give the post to the CEO of FedEx."
Another X user, Mary Argos, complained, "I just stood in line at our little post office for 30 minutes, and there were two people ahead of me. I had to leave before buying my stamps. There was a line out the door. One employee running the whole office!
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