Republicans Call on DeJoy to Release USPS Business Reform Plan

Request thorough understanding of USPS’ potential reforms before Congress considers legislation

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans wrote United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting he release a business reform plan outlining measures to improve the Postal Service’s operations and financial sustainability before Congress considers any legislation.

Congress has waited for a plan for several years because the prior Postmaster General promised but never provided one. Last month in an Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, DeJoy committed to releasing his plan by the end of March 2021. In today’s letter, Oversight Committee Republicans voiced an urgent need for the plan before Congress considers legislation.

“Committee Democrats have released a draft bill which would potentially address unfunded liabilities and debts related to retiree health benefits, but it does not address the U.S. Postal Service’s underlying problem: a broken business model. In fact, it ignores the decline in First Class Mail and the increase in parcel demand. It leaves the Postal Service on the path to insolvency and would make the current poor delivery performance the norm … It would be irresponsible for us to support any bill without the opportunity to gain a full understanding of the operational reforms the U.S. Postal Service can hope to achieve under its own authority,” wrote the Oversight Republicans.

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:

In recent testimony before the Committee and in subsequent conversations with Republican members of the Committee you have outlined a soon-to-be-released business reform plan. This is welcome news, because the Committee has been awaiting such a plan for two years since then-Postmaster General Megan Brennan promised to produce one.

Committee Democrats have released a draft bill which would potentially address unfunded liabilities and debts related to retiree health benefits, but it does not address the U.S. Postal Service’s underlying problem: a broken business model. In fact, it ignores the decline in First Class Mail and the increase in parcel demand.  It leaves the Postal Service on the path to insolvency and would make the current poor delivery performance the norm.

You have characterized your business reform plan as the way to fix operational issues and allow the Postal Service to become self-sufficient, as the law requires. We are therefore eager to review this plan in detail to determine which, if any, measures should be supported and incorporated into prospective legislation.  It would be irresponsible for us to support any bill without the opportunity to gain a full understanding of the operational reforms the U.S. Postal Service can hope to achieve under its own authority.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

James Comer, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Reform

Jody Hice, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Government Operations

Glenn S. Grothman, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on National Security

Michael Cloud, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy

Ralph Norman , Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Environment              

Pete Sessions, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Jim Jordan                                                                              

Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.

Virginia A. Foxx                                                                    

Bob Gibbs      

Clay Higgins

Fred Keller

Andy Biggs

Andrew S. Clyde

Nancy Mace

Scott Franklin

Jake LaTurner

Pat Fallon

Yvette Herrell 

Byron Donalds