Posting up

Amidst furious criticism and lawsuits and ongoing investigations and in advance of congressional hearings, the U.S. postmaster general says he is suspending a series of cost-cutting measures thought to be responsible for slowing the mail nationwide. This page and others demanded that they be put on hold until after the November election, when unprecedented millions of ballots will be sent by mail.

Louis DeJoy, a Republican megadonor, did the right thing, under pressure. But it is premature for anyone to claim victory.

The USPS is already in the process of removing 671 high-speed mail-sorting machines across the country; that will take offline more than 21 million items per hour in processing capability. Last week, it began taking away public collection boxes in parts of New York,

Pennsylvania, Oregon, California and Montana.

Democrats must press for the reversal of steps that have already thrown wrenches in the gears of vital machinery. They must keep pressing for billions in postal rescue funding that the White House and Republicans refuse to agree to.

Over the long term, the Postal Service must improve efficiency. But do it after this fall, when ballots get sent out to eligible citizens, who will then rely on the mail to make their vote count.

President Trump has waged open war against voting by mail; his rotten claims to want to save the Post Office failed the smell test. The American people must remain skeptical and vigilant. A postal failure this fall could result in a democratic failure of historic proportions.