Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Tuesday that he will continue to make certain changes to the U.S. Postal Service until after the 2020 election to “even prevent the appearance of any influence on election post.”
DeJoy, whose sharp cost-cutting measures at USPS have raised alarms about widespread mail delays that could affect the November race, said in a statement that he was temporarily “stopping some years-long operational initiatives” that “predate my arrival at the Postal Service.”
He did not mention what specific initiatives he was pursuing. However, he did provide some assurance.
DeJoy’s statement said that retail hours at post offices will not be changed, mail processing facilities will not be closed and mail processing equipment will not be relocated. He also said that “overtime has and will continue, approved as needed.”
DeJoy is a major donor to Republicans and committees that support the re-election of President Donald Trump, who without proof claimed that an expected flood of post-in-ballots in the presidential race will lead to massive levels of voter fraud.
Democrats have been sounding out for the past few weeks about the steps DeJoy has taken at USPS in the months since he was selected for the role by the agency’s board, all of whom were appointed by Trump.
These measures include crackdowns in making late delivery trips and cuts in overtime pay, among other changes. The renewal of the government agency has led to significant delays in mail deliveries, according to lawyers of postal workers and other figures.
USPS has also come under fire for reporting on mail sorting machines across facilities from facilities across the country. DeJoy’s statement does not make it clear if the machines that have already been removed will be returned to service.
“I came to the Postal Service to make changes to ensure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability,” DeJoy said in a statement released by USPS on Tuesday. “I believe important reforms are essential to that end, and work on those reforms will begin after the elections.”
“In the meantime, there have been some long-standing operational initiatives – efforts that predicted my arrival at the Postal Service – that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the amid a devastating pandemic, “he said. “To prevent even the appearance of any influence on election post, I suspend these initiatives until after the end of the election.”
The statement also said that, in early October, the agency will “add standby resources in all areas of our operations” to better address “any unforeseen demand”. An existing task force on election post will also be expanded, the statement said.
DeJoy is scheduled to testify before the majority GOP Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday and the Democrat-led House Oversight Committee on Monday. Chamber member Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., On Sunday said she was calling the House back in session to vote on a bill that would block DeJoy’s reported operational changes “until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.”
The coronavirus pandemic expects more Americans than ever to ask to cast their ballots for president by mail. Some state leaders have made plans to expand access to mail-in ballots, including by sending ballots directly to eligible voters.
Earlier Tuesday, Trump reiterated that widespread vote for post-in will lead to “a disaster our country has never seen before.”
“It will end with a rigged election, or they will never come up with an outcome. They will have to do it again,” Trump said. “And no one wants that.”
Read DeJoy’s full statement below:
WASHINGTON, DC – Postmaster General Louis DeJoy today issued the following statement:
“The United States Postal Service will play a critical role this year in providing election mail to millions of voters across the country. There has been a lot of discussion lately about whether the Postal Service is ready, willing and in. able to meet this challenge.
I want to make a few things clear:
The Postal Service is ready today to deal with the volume of election mail it will receive this autumn. Even with the challenges of keeping our employees and customers safe and healthy as they function in the midst of a pandemic, we will deliver the nation’s election post on time and within our well-established service standards. The American public should know that this is our number one priority between now and election day. The 630,000 dedicated women and men of the Post Office are dedicated, ready and proud to fulfill this sacred duty.
I announce today the extension of our current election leadership leadership task force to improve our ongoing work and partnership with state and local election officials in jurisdictions across the country. Leaders of our postal and management associations have committed themselves to this task force to ensure strong coordination throughout our organization. Due to the unusual demands of the 2020 elections, this task force will ensure that election officials and voters are well informed and fully supported by the Post Office.
I came to the Postal Service to make changes to ensure the success of this organization and its long-term sustainability. I believe that important reforms are essential for that purpose, and work on those reforms will begin after the elections. In the meantime, there are some years of operational initiatives – efforts that predicted my arrival at the Postal Service – that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the midst of a devastating pandemic. To prevent even the appearance of any influence on election post, I suspend these initiatives until after the election is over.
I want to assure all Americans of the following:
- Retail hours at post offices will not change.
- Email processing equipment and blue collection boxes will stay where they are.
- No mail processing facilities will be closed.
- And we reiterate that overtime has, if necessary, been approved.
In addition, as of October 1, we will deploy standby resources in all areas of our operations, including transportation, to meet any unforeseen demand.
I am grateful for the dedication and dedication of all the men and women of the Postal Service, and the trust they earn every day from the American public, especially as we continue to fight the impact of COVID-19. As we move forward, they will have the full support of our organization throughout the elections. “
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