{"id":28895,"date":"2023-10-05T21:30:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-06T04:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=28895"},"modified":"2023-10-05T21:30:55","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T04:30:55","slug":"tlaib-asks-usps-ig-to-probe-impacts-of-postmaster-general-dejoys-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/10\/05\/tlaib-asks-usps-ig-to-probe-impacts-of-postmaster-general-dejoys-overhaul\/","title":{"rendered":"Tlaib Asks USPS IG to Probe Impacts of Postmaster General DeJoy’s Overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"U.S.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is sworn in during a House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations and Federal Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill May 17, 2023 in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 (Photo: Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/em>“DeJoy’s 10-year plan appears to put the USPS on a fast track towards privatization, job cuts, negatively impacted service operations, and a culture of general dysfunction at one of our country’s bedrock institutions.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BRETT WILKINS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oct 05, 2023 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing the concerns of postal employees in her district, U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib<\/a> on Thursday asked<\/a> the head of the United States Postal Service’s accountability unit to launch an investigation into the impacts of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year plan, an austerity overhaul critics warn could eviscerate one of the federal government’s most venerable\u2014and popular<\/a>\u2014agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“DeJoy’s 10-year plan appears to put the USPS on a fast track towards privatization, job cuts, negatively impacted service operations, and a culture of general dysfunction at one of our country’s bedrock institutions,” Tlaib (D-Mich.) wrote in a letter<\/a> to U.S. Postal Service Inspector General Tammy Hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeJoy, a major donor to then-President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee, was installed<\/a> as postmaster general in May 2020 by Trump-appointed members of the USPS Board of Governors. His appointment came after Trump’s Office of Management and Budget recommended<\/a> that the USPS\u2014a constitutionally sanctioned agency with more than 600,000 employees\u2014be privatized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I have spoken with countless USPS employees and managers in my area, all of whom are highly concerned that the 10-year plan poses a serious risk to the fundamental capabilities of the USPS.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following March, DeJoy unveiled<\/a> a 58-page 10-year-plan, Delivering for America<\/a><\/em>, that contained austerity measures like reduced hours at some post offices, longer delivery times, consolidation of mail processing operations, and elimination of extra delivery trips. DeJoy said the plan would save the agency $160 billion over 10 years while making the postal service more efficient in the face of stiff competition from private-sector delivery services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics, however, contended that the plan was part of a scheme whose ultimate objective was privatizing the postal service. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who at the time chaired the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, warned<\/a> that the “draconian” proposal “guarantees the death spiral” of the USPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeJoy has enjoyed<\/a> a surprising second act during the Biden administration, as he has embraced policies including fleet electrification\u2014although opponents argue<\/a> he should still be fired for “dragging his feet”<\/a> on the EV rollout and for his ongoing efforts to cut tens of thousands of jobs<\/a>, consolidate operations<\/a>, and hike customer prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014 (@)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is attacking the USPS from the inside at the highest level. We must save the USPS. Louis DeJoy must be fired.<\/p>— Common Cause (@CommonCause) September 26, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>