U.S. Postmaster Basic Louis DeJoy’s Thursday announcement that the impartial United States Postal Service is partnering with the Department of Government Efficiency on a cost-cutting campaign that features a deliberate discount of 10,000 staff stoked fears that certainly one of America’s most trusted and relied-upon federal companies is on a path towards privatization.
In a letter to congressional leaders, DeJoy stated DOGE will assist the USPS “in figuring out and reaching additional efficiencies.” The postal chief listed “mismanagement” of the company’s retirement property and staff’ compensation program, “unfunded mandates imposed on us by laws,” and “burdensome regulatory necessities limiting regular enterprise observe” as points to be addressed.
Scoop: Postmaster Basic Louis DeJoy agreed final nigh to collaborate with DOGE “to help us in figuring out and reaching additional efficiencies.”
Follows Monday assembly at USPS headquarters between DOGE & DeJoy.
We’ve reported Trump contemplating privatizing USPS or merging with Commerce Dept.
— Jacob Bogage (@jacobbogage.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
“The letter suggests alarming actions for DOGE to pursue that will simply result in the privatization and politicization of the Postal Service,” Democrats on the U.S. Home Oversight Committee said in response to the announcement. “This contains DeJoy’s name to intestine and even terminate the Postal Regulatory Fee, the impartial regulator of the Postal Service created by Congress and liable for approving fee modifications and making certain applicable service.”
Brian Renfroe, president of the almost 300,000-member Nationwide Affiliation of Letter Carriers (NALC), said Thursday that whereas “coverage modifications are wanted to enhance the Postal Service’s monetary viability… misguided concepts like privatization” usually are not the reply.
“Commonsense options are what the Postal Service wants, not privatization efforts that can threaten 640,000 postal workers’ jobs, 7.9 million jobs tied to our work, and the common service each American depends on every day,” Renfroe added.
DeJoy — who final month announced his intent to step down after greater than 4 years in workplace — has led a dramatic restructuring of the USPS, a constitutionally sanctioned company. His tenure has been marred by allegations of criminal election obstruction, conflicts of interest, and other corruption. Critics have additionally warned that DeJoy’s Delivering for America, a 10-year austerity plan, put the company on a quick monitor towards slower service, job cuts, and, finally, privatization.
U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his administration is revisiting plans to probably privatize the Postal Service — a coverage recommended by the Workplace of Administration and Price range throughout his first time period. Final month, The Washington Publish reported that Trump deliberate to fireside all the Postal Board of Governors and produce the impartial USPS beneath management of the Division of Commerce, a transfer consultants argue would probably be unlawful.
Elon Musk, the de facto head of DOGE, said earlier this month that the USPS and Amtrak, the nationwide passenger rail service, ought to be privatized.
DOGE’s quick however staggering monitor report of eviscerating federal agencies by dubiously firing tens of hundreds of staff — a coverage a federal decide found illegal on Thursday — is deeply regarding to many defenders of the Postal Service.
“The one factor worse for the Postal Service than DeJoy’s Delivering for America plan is popping the service over to Elon Musk and DOGE to allow them to undermine it, privatize it, after which revenue off Individuals’ loss,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the rating member on the Home Oversight Committee, said Thursday.
“This capitulation could have catastrophic penalties for all Individuals — particularly these in rural and hard-to-reach areas — who depend on the Postal Service daily to ship mail, medicines, ballots, and extra,” the congressman added. “Dependable mail supply can’t simply be reserved for MAGA supporters and Tesla house owners.”
A extremely unhealthy day for America when Trump & Musk crew up with Louis DeJoy to assault the USPS. DeJoy simply introduced that he “signed an settlement with the Basic Companies Administration and DOGE representatives” and is permitting Elon Musk to infiltrate the USPS:…
— Congresswoman Mary Homosexual Scanlon (@RepMGS) March 13, 2025
Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Sick.) said on social media Thursday: “Louis DeJoy simply admitted he agreed handy over the Postal Service to Elon Musk. This can be a blatant transfer towards privatization, and I’ll battle to guard our postal staff and guarantee inexpensive service — particularly for rural communities.”
Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.) said the settlement “threatens hundreds of thousands who depend on USPS for medicines, Social Safety checks, and staying related.”
Nationwide days of motion in protection of the Postal Service are planned for March 20 by the American Postal Employees Union and March 23 by NALC.
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