August 10, 2020
Since joining the USPS as Postmaster General on June 15, 2020, Louis DeJoy has attracted the attention of Congress and the American public with policy changes intended to cut costs.
Early in the summer, Dejoy announced policy changes to help regain financial solvency at the USPS. The changes include a prohibition on overtime for postal service employees. Any mail not delivered during regular hours would be held until the following day. As part of the elimination of overtime, DeJoy wants customer service windows open more than eight hours a day to close for lunch long enough to bring the number of hours back to eight.
On August 7, DeJoy announced changes in the USPS management structure intended to create a more efficient and effective organization with improved customer service. The new structure will include three operating units a) Retail and Delivery, b) Logistics and Processing and c) Commerce and Business Solutions. DeJoy says, “The organizational changes will capture operating efficiencies by providing clarity and economies of scale that will allow us to reduce our cost base and capture new revenue.”
Though the recent changes do not include staff reductions, a USPS press release, dated August 7, 2020, includes the announcement of a management hiring freeze and a request for future Voluntary Early Retirement Authority from the Office of Personnel Management. The early retirement option will only apply to employees who are not represented by a collective bargaining agreement.
Lawmakers have concerns about delays in mail service. So much so that the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (The Committee), which has jurisdiction over the USPS, has formally asked DeJoy to testify before them on September 17, 2020 about the new cost cutting measures.
On July 20 The Committee sent a letter to DeJoy objecting to “operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service that could have negative impacts on service standards and cause significant delays in mail delivery.” The letter lists several questions regarding how DeJoy made his decisions about changes in policy, if all procedures were followed, and what steps the Postal Service will take to ensure that all mail-in ballots are delivered on time. Written answers were to have been returned to The Committee by July 31.
Additionally, lawmakers have written to the USPS Office of the Inspector General Chairperson Tammy Whitcomb asking that she investigate new policies within the USPS.
The USPS has long been in need of change in order to regain financial stability. However, all changes are subject to the approval of Congress.