Donald Trump took several actions targeting the United States Postal Service (USPS) during his presidency, particularly in the lead-up to the 2020 election:
Attempts to Undermine Mail-In Voting
Trump openly admitted to blocking funding for the USPS in order to make mail-in voting more difficult. In August 2020, he stated:
"Now, they need that money in order to make the post office work, so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots...That means they can't have universal mail-in voting, they just can't have it."1
Appointment of Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General
In May 2020, Trump ally Louis DeJoy was selected as the new Postmaster General. DeJoy implemented sweeping changes at USPS, including:
These changes led to significant mail delays across the country.
Financial Pressure
Trump repeatedly criticized USPS financial agreements with companies like Amazon, falsely claiming these deals were the reason for USPS financial struggles. He pressured USPS to quadruple its package delivery fees, which analysts said would bankrupt the agency1.
Spreading Misinformation
Trump consistently made baseless claims about mail-in voting leading to widespread voter fraud, despite lack of evidence. He continues to spread misinformation about USPS and mail-in voting, recently suggesting he may sue USPS over potential ballot issues in the 2024 election3.
These actions were widely seen as attempts to undermine confidence in mail-in voting and the postal service itself, particularly in the context of increased mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's efforts to interfere with USPS operations were criticized as attacks on fair elections, the Constitution, and democracy itself2.
What Are The Results
Service Delays and Performance Decline
On-Time Delivery Rates: As of fiscal 2024, USPS is delivering only 81% of first-class mail on time, a marked decline from 93.6% in 2022 and 86% earlier this year23. This represents the worst performance in three years, with reports indicating that delays are becoming more common across various regions3.
Regional Hotspots: While USPS has made efforts to address certain areas with severe delays, such as Atlanta and Houston, overall performance remains below pre-modernization levels. For instance, mail delivery times in some regions extended to 10-12 days, although they have since improved to about four days2.
Customer Complaints
Many customers have reported unprecedented delays and issues with mail delivery. Complaints include packages being misrouted, significant delays in receiving time-sensitive documents, and inconsistent delivery schedules at local post offices34. Some users noted that their mail is no longer delivered daily, leading to accumulations that delay delivery even further3.
Future Concerns
In summary, the current state of USPS is marked by declining on-time delivery rates and rising customer dissatisfaction. The situation appears to be worsening as the year progresses.
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