“Many Americans have been waiting for weeks,” he told lawmakers.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Wednesday offered a serious review of the post office’s finances and performance capabilities, but reaffirmed its intention to overhaul the agency and remain in charge, saying to a Democratic lawmaker, “Get used to me. “
Chosen to lead the postal service last summer, DeJoy’s tumultuous term was marked by intense party scrutiny and a reform effort that slowed mail deliveries across much of the country. DeJoy apologized on Wednesday for “unacceptable” mail delays during the holiday season.
“During this high season, we fell far short of our service goals. Many Americans spent weeks waiting for important deliveries of mail and packages,” DeJoy told lawmakers. “This is unacceptable and I apologize to customers who have felt the impact of our delays.”
Wednesday’s hearing before the House Oversight Committee provided lawmakers with a place to expose latent complaints about the 2020 election and continuing delays in the courier service. Between party disputes, DeJoy sought to promote a 10-year strategic plan, which drew provisional approval from high-profile members on both sides of the corridor.
Although the Post Office remains one of the country’s most popular federal agencies, its leader became a political lightning rod before the 2020 presidential election, when Democrats accused DeJoy – a former Republican Party donor – of deliberately delaying correspondence in a an attempt to undermine the ballot correspondence, which should largely support Democratic candidates DeJoy and the Post Office vehemently denied the charges.
During Wednesday’s hearing, lawmakers bombarded DeJoy with questions about his plan to resuscitate the struggling post office. But part of the more intense rhetoric surrounded the November election – a sign that the new government’s message of unity may stop at the fences surrounding the United States Capitol.
At one point, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called the postal vote controversy a politically motivated “charade” fabricated by Democrats to influence voters. Deputy Gerry Connolly, D-Va., Fired back: “I did not vote to overturn an election. And I will not be reprimanded by people who voted for partisanship.”
Despite the moments of combative political disputes, many committee members aimed to address many legitimate concerns with the agency, which is facing a “terrible financial trajectory,” said DeJoy.
Most notably, DeJoy presented a 10-year strategic plan that includes a promise to maintain delivery over six and seven days and overhaul its infrastructure – including a $ 482 million investment in a new fleet of 165,000 trucks, a model that was revealed Tuesday -market.
DeJoy said he would release the complete plan by the end of March.
Despite DeJoy’s profound unpopularity among Democrats, the new Biden government was unable to replace him. That power lies with the Postal Service board of directors – whose six full members were appointed by President Donald Trump as a result of a Republican-controlled Senate blocking a list of President Barack Obama’s nominees.
The current list of governors expressed support for DeJoy and ignored repeated calls to remove him from the post of general postmaster.
As a result, Democrats and influential union leaders publicly pressured President Joe Biden to appoint new governors, who would need Senate approval. Last week, more than 70 Democratic congressmen urged Biden to appoint new governors “as soon as possible” to “seriously consider whether the current Postmaster General is suitable to continue in his role.”