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House Democrats with oversight responsibilities for the United States Postal Service (USPS) are raising alarms about potential maneuvers by the Trump administration that could undermine this essential institution.
In a letter addressed to House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-KY), a group of twenty House Democrats, led by Oversight Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-VA), expressed the following concerns:
We urge you to convene an immediate hearing regarding the Trump Administrationâs intentions for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Since our last committee hearing, reports indicate that the Trump Administration is exploring options to privatize the USPS, dismiss the bipartisan Postal Board of Governors, and merge USPS operations with the Department of Commerce. This drastic shift threatens to subject the USPS, a pillar of American trust, to a chaotic overhaul akin to the âchainsaw approachâ favored by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Such an expansive assault on the USPS’s independence warrants urgent Congressional oversight, especially from the Committee responsible for its jurisdiction.
On December 14, 2024, the Washington Post revealed that President Trump was contemplating measures to privatize the USPS, risking the jobs of thousands of federal employees in favor of privatized services. Just two months later, additional reports surfaced that Trump was preparing to dismiss the bipartisan Postal Board of Governors and âmergeâ the Postal Service into the Commerce Department, potentially throwing the 250-year-old mail service and its role in trillions of dollars of e-commerce into disarray.
On March 13, 2025, you received correspondence from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, confirming an agreement he signed with DOGE representatives and the General Services Administration aimed at assisting the USPS in identifying and achieving further efficiencies. This arrangement reportedly includes plans for a âfurther reduction of another 10,000 positions within the next 30 daysâ and cuts to air and ground transportation, as well as terminal handling facilities, through the termination of operating contracts and lease cancellations. These services are crucial for the timely delivery of essential mail, including medications, bills, ballots, parcels, and letters.
The agreement also indicates the Postmaster Generalâs intentions to undermine the Congressionally-authorized Postal Regulatory Commission, which could permit rate changes and rule-making that favor specific industries and individuals, ultimately jeopardizing the Postal Serviceâs operational integrity and its universal service obligation. This clandestine deal between billionaire-led DOGE and Postmaster DeJoy raises significant concerns regarding the Administrationâs vision for the Postal Service as a public institution.
The USPS facilitates the delivery of over 115 billion pieces of mail annually, with a substantial portion going to rural, low-income, and hard-to-reach communities that would otherwise lack service. This universal service obligation has historically garnered bipartisan support in Congress and is integral to the Postal Service’s mission.
The Democrats are calling for an immediate hearing and for copies of all agreements signed by DeJoy with DOGE and Musk.
It doesn’t require a PhD in rocket scienceâor a billionaire with a penchant for explosive rocketsâto grasp the implications of this situation. Trump and Musk appear to be scheming to dismantle the Postal Service through an underhanded deal that circumvents legal oversight.
Any alterations to the USPS should originate from Congress, not from a president and his billionaire benefactor who seemingly purchased access to power. Since Trump and his wealthy allies seem to prefer conducting business behind closed doors, it falls upon Congress to inform the public of these developments, as public scrutiny has proven effective in prompting Trump to reconsider his actions.
What are your thoughts on the backroom deal between Musk and DeJoy? Share your opinions in the comments below.
