Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urged U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees to ignore speculation about presidential control, emphasizing that changes to the agency require collaboration between Congress and the president.
Addressing USPS’s 640,000 employees, DeJoy reassured them that the agency remains governed by federal law. His remarks followed reports that President Donald Trump considered merging USPS with the Commerce Department. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested USPS workers could help reduce government costs by assisting with the U.S. census and Social Security services. However, Democrats argue such a move would violate federal law.
USPS, which has lost over $100 billion since 2007, is undergoing major reforms. DeJoy announced new service standards designed to save at least $36 billion over the next decade by eliminating outdated operational mandates. The agency, which suffered a $9.5 billion loss last year, reported a rare fourth-quarter profit of $144 million.
USPS has struggled due to declining first-class mail volumes, down 80% since 1997, reaching their lowest levels since 1968. Established as an independent entity in 1970, the Postal Service operates under an 11-member board of governors, nine of whom are presidential appointees.
DeJoy, who has led USPS for nearly five years, recently announced plans to step down, stating that his tenure has set the agency on a clear path to profitability. His departure follows the implementation of key elements in a decade-long restructuring strategy aimed at stabilizing USPS finances and improving efficiency.