It will be the first opportunity for the U.S. Postal Service to answer questions amid accusations that the Trump administration is deliberately handicapping the USPS in an attempt to block mail-in voting during the pandemic.
Democrats in the House Oversight Committee announced earlier this week that DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan would testify Monday before their committee.
Lawmakers from both parties and postal union leaders have sounded alarms about procedural changes introduced by DeJoy this summer, including eliminating overtime and delaying some mail delivery.
DeJoy acknowledged to USPS staff this week that the cost-cutting measures “have unintended consequences”, but defended them as necessary.
Democrats have claimed that DeJoy, who has been an ally of President Donald Trump and Republican donor, was deliberately suppressing postal service operations to sabotage voting in post-sabotage in the November election – a charge that DeJoy denies.
Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat of the Senate committee, said in a statement Tuesday that he was “pleased to have secured a supervisor … to address pressing questions about Postal Service delays.”
Peters, who is up for reelection in Michigan again this fall, announced earlier this month that he has begun an investigation into the backlog at the USPS, and because Democrats are in the minority, Homeland Security president pressed Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, for a hearing with DeJoy.
The Postal Service’s internal watchdog also looks at DeJoy’s recent impressive policy changes, and its adherence to federal ethical rules.
CNN first reported that DeJoy still owns a $ 30 million stake in his former company – a USPS contractor – and that he recently bought stock options for Amazon, a USPS competitor. These holdings are likely to pose a major conflict of interest, ethical experts told CNN, although DeJoy and USPS claim he has met all federal requirements.
This story was updated Tuesday with additional developments.
CNN’s Marshall Cohen contributed to this report.
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