Postmaster general apologizes for mail delays | TheHill – The Hill

Postmaster General Louis DeJoyLouis DeJoy House Democrats call on Biden to fill Postal Service Board vacancies to pave way for ousting DeJoy Duckworth urges Biden to oust entire Postal Service board The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – Day 1 goes to Dems as GOP fumes at Trump lawyers MORE offered a public apology before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday for recent mail delivery delays during the peak holiday season.

DeJoy, making his first appearance before the panel since a combative hearing last summer over his cost-cutting measures at the agency, acknowledged that the Postal Service experienced delivery delays that were particularly pronounced late last year during the holidays.

“We must acknowledge that during this peak season, we fell far short of meeting our service targets,” DeJoy said in his opening statement before the Oversight panel.

“Too many Americans were left waiting for weeks for important deliveries of mail and packages. This is unacceptable and I apologize to those customers who felt the impact of our delays,” DeJoy said, pledging that the Postal Service would “strive to do better in our service to the American people and we will do better.”

With more people shopping online during the pandemic — especially during the holiday season — the Postal Service experienced an unusual volume of packages late last year that led to widespread delivery delays. The Postal Service said in December that the delays were exacerbated by a shortage in postal workers due to a spike in COVID-19 cases and “capacity challenges” with airlifts and trucking.

DeJoy has said that the Postal Service tried to take preemptive measures such as hiring thousands of seasonal workers and buying maximal amounts of air capacity, but acknowledged that the agency still fell short of its delivery targets.

DeJoy, a major GOP donor who previously worked as a logistic company executive, began enacting measures like removing mail sorting machines after becoming postmaster general in June.

He then put further cost-cutting initiatives on hold until after the November elections to address critics’ concerns that the changes were meant to undermine a growing number of people casting ballots by mail in last year’s elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

DeJoy told lawmakers that he expects to unveil a strategic plan for the Postal Service within the next few weeks. He confirmed that it may include changes to first-class mail, including transporting less of it by airplanes and lengthening the current two-day standard.

“If we in fact get the relief that we need in terms of time, we will put more mail on the ground,” DeJoy said in response to questioning from Rep. Jamie RaskinJamin (Jamie) Ben Raskin Officer on Capitol riot: ‘Is this America? They beat police officers with Blue Lives Matter flags’ Considering impeachment’s future National Guard at the Capitol: Too costly — and not just in money MORE (D-Md.), noting that a “big, big reason” for the holiday season delays were a result of air carriers underperforming.

At the same time, DeJoy acknowledged that in order to get mail in three days over a long distance such as from New York to California, “we can’t do that on a truck.”

“It sounds like your solution to the problems you’ve identified is just surrender,” Raskin replied. “You’re basically saying, ‘Because the mail has been late under your leadership, we’re just going to change the standards and build it into the system that it will be late.’ ”

DeJoy shot back that the first-class delivery standard has been underperforming long before he became postmaster general.

“It’s not reliable. You can sit here and think that I’m bringing all this damage to the Postal Service. But as I said earlier, the place was operationally faulty because of a lack of investment and lack of ability to move forward, which is what we’re trying to do,” DeJoy said.

Ron Bloom, who worked in the Obama administration and was nominated to serve on the Postal Service Board of Governors by former President TrumpDonald Trump Romney: ‘Pretty sure’ Trump would win 2024 GOP nomination if he ran for president Pence huddles with senior members of Republican Study Committee Trump says ‘no doubt’ Tiger Woods will be back after accident MORE, testified under questioning from Rep. Jody HiceJody Brownlow Hice 42 GOP lawmakers press for fencing around Capitol to be removed Georgia elections chief refutes election claims in letter to Congress READ: The Republicans who voted to challenge election results MORE (R-Ga.) that he did not believe DeJoy was trying to slow down election mail last year by removing mailboxes and sorting machines.

Bloom became chairman of the Board of Governors earlier this month after his predecessor, Robert Duncan, stepped down from the post. Duncan, a former Republican National Committee chairman, remains on the board.

All of the current six members of the Postal Service Board of Governors were nominated to their positions by Trump. Two of the current members, including Bloom, are Democrats.

Rep. Gerry ConnollyGerald (Gerry) Edward Connolly House Democrats call on Biden to fill Postal Service Board vacancies to pave way for ousting DeJoy Trump’s assault on the federal government isn’t over LIVE COVERAGE: House votes to impeach Trump after Capitol insurrection MORE (D-Va.) asked Bloom about the comments from another member of the Board of Governors, John Barger, saying last September that “the board is tickled pink” with DeJoy’s impact.

“I’m generally not tickled pink by things,” Bloom testified, but he confirmed that the board thinks that DeJoy “in very difficult circumstances is doing a good job.”

Many Democrats are clamoring for DeJoy’s ouster and have urged President BidenJoe Biden Hoyer: House will vote on COVID-19 relief bill Friday Pence huddles with senior members of Republican Study Committee Powell pushes back on GOP inflation fears MORE to act quickly to fill the three vacancies on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors, which would have the power to remove him.

The nine-member Postal Service Board of Governors selects a postmaster general, who serves for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the board. While the members of the Board of Governors are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, the postmaster general can only be removed by the board.

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen Psaki Hillicon Valley: Companies urge action at SolarWinds hearing | Facebook lifts Australian news ban | Biden to take action against Russia in ‘weeks’ Overnight Health Care: COVID-19 vaccine makers pledge massive supply increase | Biden health nominee faces first Senate test | White House defends reopening of facility for migrant kids Ocasio-Cortez criticizes opening of migrant facility for children under Biden MORE said Tuesday that nominating people to fill the vacancies is a “priority” for Biden, but did not offer a timeline.