Sarbanes Joins Push to Reshape USPS Board of Governors, Remove Postmaster General DeJoy and Improve Mail Delivery Services for Americans Across the Country

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined dozens of Members of Congress in calling on President Joe Biden to fill three vacancies on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, which would enable the Board to fire Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, reverse harmful DeJoy-led policies and end the ongoing mail delivery crisis.

"We believe that the ongoing crisis at the [USPS] requires your immediate attention," the lawmakers wrote. "We respectfully request that you submit nominations for the three vacant positions on the [USPS] Board of Governors to the Senate as expeditiously as possible. Nominating strong, passionate advocates for the institution to these open seats will allow it to function in a more nonpartisan and effective manner."

The lawmakers continued: "The lack of bipartisan consensus is evident in the Board of Governors' selection of Republican Party megadonor Louis DeJoy – who had no experience working for the Postal Service prior to his appointment…. Since Mr. DeJoy assumed office, he has … rapidly transformed the Postal Service to the detriment of Americans."

The lawmakers concluded: "There is a plethora of evidence that Postmaster General DeJoy is not equipped to meet the rigors of these challenges. Filling the vacant seats on the Postal Service's Board of Governors with strong, passionate advocates for the institution will allow it to function in a nonpartisan manner, and will allow the Board to seriously consider whether the current Postmaster General is suitable to continue in his role."

See below for a full copy of the letter.

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February 16, 2021

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for your dedicated efforts to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the American people. Under your leadership, we look forward to helping our country build back better from the hardships brought about by this pandemic. In particular, we believe that the ongoing crisis at the United States Postal Service requires your immediate attention. We respectfully request that you submit nominations for the three vacant positions on the United States Postal Service's Board of Governors to the Senate as expeditiously as possible. Nominating strong, passionate advocates for the institution to these open seats will allow it to function in a more nonpartisan and effective manner.

As you know, the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service functions as its board of directors. The Board comprises 11 individuals, nine of whom are selected by the President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate. As a result of the Trump Administration's failure to fully fill the board, three of those nine seats remain vacant. We strongly believe that filling those three vacancies would enhance the ability of the Board to reach nonpartisan consensus on matters of importance.

The lack of bipartisan consensus is evident in the Board of Governors' selection of Republican Party megadonor Louis DeJoy – who had no experience working for the Postal Service prior to his appointment – to succeed Megan Brennan as Postmaster General in June 2020. Since Mr. DeJoy assumed office, he has, under the guise of enacting needed reforms, rapidly transformed the Postal Service to the detriment of Americans. Critically, the on-time delivery of flat mail has plunged drastically; veterans, who rely almost exclusively on the Postal Service to receive their medications through the VA, have faced life-threatening delays in receiving those parcels; and the public perception pertaining to the integrity of the 2020 general election was threatened by the impact of these delays on the timely delivery of mail-in ballots.

Now more than ever, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure USPS can maintain its high service standards when Americans – especially seniors, veterans and those in rural communities – are relying on the efficient and timely delivery of bills, parcels and medication from the Postal Service. We do not doubt that the Postal Service requires some thoughtful reforms in order to continue to provide excellent service to the American people in the years to come; however, there is a plethora of evidence that Postmaster General DeJoy is not equipped to meet the rigors of these challenges. Filling the vacant seats on the Postal Service's Board of Governors with strong, passionate advocates for the institution will allow it to function in a nonpartisan manner, and will allow the Board to seriously consider whether the current Postmaster General is suitable to continue in his role.

We thank you for your consideration of this important request and look forward to working with you as you take decisive steps to secure one of our country's oldest, most cherished and most valuable public institutions.

Sincerely,

/signatures/

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