Louis DeJoy, the Postmaster General, told a House panel on Wednesday that the United States Postal Service was in a “death spiral” and that they may have to slow the delivery of first-class mail. But as the embattled Trump administration holdover sparred with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, President Biden announced a slew of USPS nomination that could lead to DeJoy’s removal.
U.S. Postmaster General DeJoy is set to implement a new strategic plan that includes higher postage rates and the elimination of first-class tier of mail, two sources familiar with the move tell @NBCNews. https://t.co/TRKawbQtBv
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 13, 2021
DeJoy’s appearance in front of The House Oversight Committee came as the USPS reported a $9.2 billion operating loss in 2020 despite an uptick in package deliveries during the pandemic. It was the 14th straight year the Postal Service was in the red.
In a testy exchange with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MA), DeJoy explained that the USPS might have to scale back its use of airplanes (watch above). A switch to more ground transportation will save the postal service money, but it could add days to the delivery time of mail, particularly if it’s traveling cross country. Raskin told DeJoy, “You’re basically saying, ‘Because the mail has been late under your leadership, we’re just going to change the standards and build it into the system that it will be late.’”
DeJoy, a long-time GOP donor, was appointed to his current position in May 2020 by a USPS Board of Governors controlled by then-president Donald Trump. He was accused of deliberately slowing down the delivery of mail-in ballots.
Facts are stubborn things. And despite all the gaslighting from enablers of the former president, the facts here aren't up for debate.
Louis DeJoy, and the Board of Governors that hired him, oversaw a political crusade to undermine the Postal Service before an election. pic.twitter.com/wPrQZH3A0k
— Rep. Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) February 24, 2021
In August, more than 90 House Democrats called on the board to fire DeJoy.
Democrats are now at odds over whether to immediately seek Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's ouster https://t.co/Fq5REMU6fZ pic.twitter.com/M6ovOl7R02
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 24, 2021
A president cannot directly fire a postmaster general, but as DeJoy was testifying on Wednesday, President Biden announced three nominees to the USPS Board, including a voting-rights advocate and former postal union leader. If confirmed, these nominees can join the other Democratic-appointees on the board and oust DeJoy.
“Get used to me.”
— Postmaster General Louis DeJoy rejects the notion he’s “a political appointee” and plans to stay in his role “for a long time.” pic.twitter.com/VQTEGx07Zu
— The Recount (@therecount) February 24, 2021