A wave of criticism looms from the White House as Louis DeJoy, a top Republican donor and ally of President Donald Trump, has been named the new Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service.
What We Know:
- The Postal Service’s Board of Governors announced the move on Wednesday, saying DeJoy, a North Carolina businessman and head of fundraising for August’s Republican National Convention in Charlotte, would work to preserve and protect “this essential institution” in his new role.
- “Louis DeJoy understands the critical public service role of the United States Postal Service, and the urgent need to strengthen it for future generations,” Robert Duncan, the chair of the board, said in a statement.
- According to a report by the Washington Post, DeJoy will begin his term on June 15. He will be the first postmaster general in two decades who doesn’t come from within the agency. Trump has railed against the Postal Service for years, and DeJoy’s posting renews concern about the future of the USPS.
I will never let our Post Office fail. It has been mismanaged for years, especially since the advent of the internet and modern-day technology. The people that work there are great, and we’re going to keep them happy, healthy, and well!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2020
- The Postal Service has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Officials told lawmakers this week that mail volume was down by about a third and said they predicted a $13 billion loss for the fiscal year. This has prompted the organization to seek a bailout from the government in order to keep running.
- Democrats have been urging that the agency be extended a lifeline in the next pandemic relief measure, but the White House has so far resisted. Trump has instead said the Postal Service would need to charge companies like Amazon four or five times the current rates in order to secure a loan.
Given that the DeJoy’s family has close ties with the Trump administration, they have previously given over $2 million to his campaign, including $1 million to the Republican National Committee, the HuffPost notes. His wife, Aldona Wos, is the vice chair of the Commission on White House Fellowships and was nominated by the president to be the ambassador to Canada in February.
