The senator overseeing the U.S. Postal Service is urging its leadership to halt the overhaul of its mailing network due to potential impacts on delivery. Senator Gary Peters, chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, rejects USPS claims of transparency and demands proof that operational reforms won’t harm mail service.
USPS is undergoing significant structural changes as part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s Delivering for America plan. This includes centralizing mail sorting and processing operations, along with implementing an “optimized collection plan” requiring mail to sit overnight at post offices
Despite USPS’s assurances of improved efficiency and cost reduction, concerns have arisen regarding plummeting delivery rates and potential service degradation, particularly in rural areas and for critical mail like election ballots and health information. Senator Peters has called for a USPS response by April 1, seeking detailed assessments and timelines for the reforms.
While USPS maintains the changes will streamline operations, Senator Peters and others remain skeptical, citing insufficient feedback and transparency. Despite these concerns, USPS Vice President Peter Pastre asserts that the agency has shared extensive details of its plans.
However, Postmaster General DeJoy shows no signs of pausing the reforms, emphasizing their urgency and the need to avoid interference. According to Pastre, halting the modernization efforts would have adverse effects on employees, costs, construction timelines, and environmental impact.
Meanwhile, President Biden’s nomination of Marty Walsh to the USPS board of governors could influence the fate of DeJoy’s plans, as the board must approve them. Walsh’s confirmation would add another Democratic voice to the board, potentially shaping the direction of USPS reforms.
This story has been updated with additional comment from USPS.
