Postmaster General Called To Testify Before Congress After Restructuring Plan Threatens Mail-In Voting

The House Oversight Committee called the Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, to testify on August 24th, a month earlier than scheduled due to the increasing national concern about DeJoy’s decisions to remove mail collection boxes and mail processing machines in the months leading up to November’s presidential election.

DeJoy became the Postmaster in May and has been a controversial figure because of his close ties to President Donald Trump as a large Republican Party donor and apparent lack of experience with the Postal Service. The National Organization of Letter Carriers warned of the politicization of the agency in a letter, saying “Keeping politics out of the Postal Service and maintaining its independence is central to its success.” DeJoy is also the first postmaster in two decades without any experience in the agency.

In an internal memo, DeJoy talked about the “unintended consequences” of his plan to restructure the beleaguered agency.

NBC News reports that DeJoy said, “Let me be clear about the reasons behind our restructuring and the need for our plan. Our financial condition is dire. Our critics are quick to point to our finances, yet they offer no solution .”

President Donald Trump opposes mail-in voting, falsely alleging that it invites fraud and has not denied attempting to manipulate circumstances in a way that negatively impacts the institution. But, Trump and First Lady, Melania, have requested mail-in ballots for November. And, millions of Americans plan to vote by mail to avoid  increased exposure to the coronavirus by visiting a polling place on Election Day.

Utah Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican and former presidential candidate, says the majority of residents in his state utilize mail-in voting, and he feels it is secure.

Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents California’s 17th District including Silicon Valley, has been critical of the changes at the Postal Service, saying, “Our democracy is at stake.” 

And, award-winning journalist Carl Bernstein stated, “We have a tyrant President of the United States, trying to act like a king, undermine the very electoral system most important element of our democracy by impeding the postal service and throwing grave doubt among Americans about the efficacy and fairness of the election through lies and subterfuge. This is a real national crisis, and it requires a Republican Party that has enabled and gone along with this undermining of our electoral process to come to the fore and help save our Democratic process at this pivotal moment.”

DeJoy has to notify the Oversight Committee by tomorrow if he will testify on August 24th.