Democrats in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs said they were skeptical, demanding that DeJoy provide Congress with the data he has used to make changes to USPS operations.
Yes, there have been mail delays …
But he acknowledged that operational changes he was making, such as restricting additional truck routes, had led to delays in the post.
“We all feel bad about what the dip has been in our service level,” DeJoy told GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.
DeJoy later told Homeland Security chairman Ron Johnson that “a substantial portion” of the delays were due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while saying the USPS was working “briefly” to clear the cuts.
“The only change I made, madam, was leave the trucks on time. Theoretically, everyone should have gotten their mail faster,” DeJoy told Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada, while acknowledging that was not the case. .
While DeJoy said he would stop making changes to operations until after the election, he added that he would not reverse the removal of sorting machines that lawmakers have worried about.
“There is no intention to do that. They are not necessary, sir,” he told Senator Gary Peters, Michigan, the panel’s top Democrat.
… But the election will be good, says DeJoy
DeJoy was clear that the Postal Service would be able to process the volume of mail that an expected rise in ballot papers will cause in November.
Democrats have accused the Postal Service of cuts that will damage the election, which President Donald Trump has attacked several times. Even top union officials have expressed concern that the USPS will not be able to deliver post-ballots on time.
At Friday’s hearing, DeJoy said it was his top priority to make sure the polls run smoothly.
“Senator, I promise you we will not make any changes after the election,” he told Democratic senators. Arizona’s Kyrsten Cinema, who later said he was “extremely, very confident” was all the votes sent in time seven days before the election.
DeJoy also said the postal service will work to ensure voters are educated about sending votes through the mail. “Indeed, I think in September we will be sending a letter to every American with what our process is, going out to every American citizen,” he said.
DeJoy supports voice-by-post, breaks with Trump
Trump has been standing on vote-by-mail for months, falsely claiming it leads to major fraud, and also claims that the Postal Service cannot handle the volume of votes that will likely be sent via mail this election.
But DeJoy expressed strong support for using the mail to vote, saying he did so and he supports all Americans who have access to votes they can send via USPS.
“I have been voting by mail for a number of years. The postal service will deliver every vote and process every vote in the time it gets,” he said.
The question was specifically asked by Portman if he supports voicemail, DeJoy said: “I do. I think the American public should be able to vote by mail. And the Postal Service will, will, will support. That, I think that’s right. “
DeJoy also said he had not discussed the postal service operations with Trump, and reiterated Democratic accusations that he had been installed to sabotage the postal service before the election.
Republicans are worried about the email as well
Johnson accused Democrats at the beginning of the hearing of progress of a “hyperbolically false narrative” about problems with the post to attack DeJoy and gain a political advantage.
Friday’s hearing revealed that concerns about e-mail service are two-sided, as several Republican senators expressed alarm over what they heard from constituencies about the delays.
“We have a number of veterinarians who have contacted us and said they could not get their medication,” Portman said.
While several Republicans strongly reiterated the idea that DeJoy was trying to hurt postal service before the election, Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, explained why the concerns were raised.
“Mr. DeJoy, assuming if I do that you were true in your testimony today, I can imagine how frustrating it is to be accused of political motives in your responsibility for management,” Romney said. “At the same time, of course, you can understand that there have been pretty good reasons for people to think that you or your colleagues are deliberately acting to suppress the vote, or that you are deliberately preventing ballots from being counted.”
Romney added that Trump’s comments only raised concerns. “Any surprise about such concerns should be tempered by the fact that the president has made repeated claims that sending via email will be fraudulent, and that he does not want to give any more money to the post office, because without more money you can.” have universal mail-in voices, ‘he said.
The friendly, softer senate
Friday’s hearing with DeJoy was announced after the House Oversight Committee on Monday secured the upcoming testimony of DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan. Johnson said the hearing was an opportunity for DeJoy to explain what happened before he went before a ‘hostile’ panel of Democratic-led houses.
It is safe to say that Friday’s hearing was more cordial than the reception DeJoy will receive before the House on Monday, a committee twice the size of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and including Democrats. who are known for tough demand like Rep. Katie Porter of California and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Ninety House Democrats sent a letter this week dismissing DeJoy, including members of the Oversight panel.
Another important difference is that Monday’s hearing will be conducted in part in a auditorium, and not fully virtual like Friday’s hearing. That means House lawmakers can deal face-to-face with DeJoy and Duncan, though some members will still ask virtual questions.
DeJoy was reprimanded several times by senators, such as when Rosen demanded that he explain what analysis was being conducted about the impact changes would have on seniors, and that he provide documents to the senate such as minutes of board meetings.
“You will not promise to deliver minutes,” she asked.
“I do not know, I do not have the authority to do some of those things,” DeJoy replied.
Technology is hard
Sen. Tom Carper, a Delaware Democrat who is arguably the most ardent senator when it comes to the Postal Service, had some technical issues that led to quite the entire mic moment.
When it was Carper’s turn to ask DeJoy, it turned out that his microphone was not turning on, and Johnson was ready for the next senator, Republican Senator James Lankford, Oklahoma.
Then the shot turned to Carper. “F —, f —, f —,” he exclaimed, in an outburst known to anyone who has done Zoom meetings during the pandemic.
“Min. President, I think Sen. Carper is there, I think he can do it in all sorts of queues,” Lankford said.
“Sen Carper, can you unmute?” Johnson responded.
There was no question he already had.
CNN’s Marshall Cohen and Clare Foran contributed to this report.
.
