Postmaster General Louis DeJoy arrives for a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on August 5, 2020. (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
90 House Democrats Demand USPS Board of Governors Immediately Remove DeJoy Over Postal Service Sabotage
"DeJoy's 'suspension' of policies does not reverse his destructive actions to the USPS or change his countless conflicts of interest."
A group of 90 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded that the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, arguing that his vow to suspend recently imposed mail service changes does nothing to undo his conflicts of interest or the damage he's already done to the nation's most popular government institution.
"Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution," the Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the board.
"Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable," reads the letter, which was led by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).
As Common Dreams previously reported, the Board of Governors unanimously appointed DeJoy--a major Republican donor to President Donald Trump--in May despite his potential conflicts of interest and complete lack of experience working for the Postal Service.
"Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor," the lawmakers wrote. "Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it."
Read the full letter:
Dear Chairman Duncan and Members of the Board:
We write to urge you to immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy using your powers under 39 U.S. Code SS 202. Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution. Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable.
Mail is an essential government service and a critical lifeline for many during the Covid-19 pandemic. Americans rely on the USPS to deliver their medications, paychecks, ballots, and other essential goods. In his brief time as Postmaster General, Mr. DeJoy has implemented policies that have slowed mail delivery times to unacceptable levels and resulted in undelivered mail. Americans must be able to rely on USPS to deliver essential goods like medicine, and Mr. DeJoy's actions have consistently undermined the Postal Service's ability to deliver such items on time.
Furthermore, Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor. Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it.
It is your responsibility as the Board of Governors to ensure that the USPS is able to discharge its critically important duties and to ensure the institution's long-term wellbeing. You must not allow it to be used as a political tool. We urge you to remove Mr. DeJoy immediately.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A group of 90 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded that the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, arguing that his vow to suspend recently imposed mail service changes does nothing to undo his conflicts of interest or the damage he's already done to the nation's most popular government institution.
"Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution," the Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the board.
"Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable," reads the letter, which was led by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).
As Common Dreams previously reported, the Board of Governors unanimously appointed DeJoy--a major Republican donor to President Donald Trump--in May despite his potential conflicts of interest and complete lack of experience working for the Postal Service.
"Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor," the lawmakers wrote. "Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it."
Read the full letter:
Dear Chairman Duncan and Members of the Board:
We write to urge you to immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy using your powers under 39 U.S. Code SS 202. Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution. Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable.
Mail is an essential government service and a critical lifeline for many during the Covid-19 pandemic. Americans rely on the USPS to deliver their medications, paychecks, ballots, and other essential goods. In his brief time as Postmaster General, Mr. DeJoy has implemented policies that have slowed mail delivery times to unacceptable levels and resulted in undelivered mail. Americans must be able to rely on USPS to deliver essential goods like medicine, and Mr. DeJoy's actions have consistently undermined the Postal Service's ability to deliver such items on time.
Furthermore, Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor. Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it.
It is your responsibility as the Board of Governors to ensure that the USPS is able to discharge its critically important duties and to ensure the institution's long-term wellbeing. You must not allow it to be used as a political tool. We urge you to remove Mr. DeJoy immediately.
A group of 90 House Democrats on Wednesday demanded that the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, arguing that his vow to suspend recently imposed mail service changes does nothing to undo his conflicts of interest or the damage he's already done to the nation's most popular government institution.
"Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution," the Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter to the board.
"Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable," reads the letter, which was led by Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).
As Common Dreams previously reported, the Board of Governors unanimously appointed DeJoy--a major Republican donor to President Donald Trump--in May despite his potential conflicts of interest and complete lack of experience working for the Postal Service.
"Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor," the lawmakers wrote. "Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it."
Read the full letter:
Dear Chairman Duncan and Members of the Board:
We write to urge you to immediately remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy using your powers under 39 U.S. Code SS 202. Mr. DeJoy has used his time as Postmaster General to sabotage the United States Postal Service (USPS) and he must be removed immediately to protect this critical institution. Despite recent claims by Mr. DeJoy that implementation of certain changes may be delayed, he has already done considerable damage to the institution and we believe his conflicts of interest are insurmountable.
Mail is an essential government service and a critical lifeline for many during the Covid-19 pandemic. Americans rely on the USPS to deliver their medications, paychecks, ballots, and other essential goods. In his brief time as Postmaster General, Mr. DeJoy has implemented policies that have slowed mail delivery times to unacceptable levels and resulted in undelivered mail. Americans must be able to rely on USPS to deliver essential goods like medicine, and Mr. DeJoy's actions have consistently undermined the Postal Service's ability to deliver such items on time.
Furthermore, Mr. DeJoy holds a significant investment in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor. Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent tremendous conflict of interest. We cannot trust that Mr. DeJoy will act in the best interest of the USPS or the people who rely on it.
It is your responsibility as the Board of Governors to ensure that the USPS is able to discharge its critically important duties and to ensure the institution's long-term wellbeing. You must not allow it to be used as a political tool. We urge you to remove Mr. DeJoy immediately.