Postmaster questioned
But no plan to return removed equipment
Pressed by senators, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Friday that delivering election mail safely and on time was a “sacred duty.” He also said he was unaware of recent operational changes until they sparked an uproar.
DeJoy told senators that election mail would be prioritized for delivery as in years past. But he also said he has no plans to restore blue curbside collection boxes or high-speed sorting machines that have been removed.
– Pressed by senators, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said Friday that delivering election mail safely and on time was a “sacred duty.” He also said he was unaware of recent mail operation changes until they sparked a public uproar.
DeJoy told senators that election mail would be prioritized for delivery as in years past.
But he also said he has no plans to restore curbside collection boxes or sorting machines that have been removed, contending they are “not needed.”
DeJoy distanced himself from President Donald Trump’s complaints about mail-in ballots that are expected to surge in the coronavirus pandemic.
He declared the Postal Service “is fully capable and committed to delivering the nation’s election mail securely and on time.” He said that was his “No. 1 priority between now and Election Day.”
“I think the American people should be able to vote by mail,” DeJoy testified.
The new postmaster general, a Trump donor and ally who took the job in June, has faced a public outcry over changes and delivery delays. Democrats warn his cost-cutting initiatives are causing an upheaval that threatens the election.
They peppered him during a twohour hearing with questions about the Trump administration’s push to deprive the Postal Service of emergency funds to process ballots for November. Trump had said he wants to block agency funding to make it harder for the Postal Service to handle the expected surge of mail-in ballots during the pandemic.
DeJoy said he has had few conversations with White House officials.
He said he had “no idea” equipment was being removed until the public outcry. Democrats pressed him on how he would ensure election mail and ballots would arrive on time.
“Do you have a more detailed plan?” demanded Sen. Maggie Hassan, DN.H., asking for it by Sunday.
“I don’t think we’ll have a complete plan by Sunday night,” DeJoy replied, acknowledging it was just being formed.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, chairman of the Homeland SeWASHINGTON curity and Governmental Affairs Committee, defended him and dismissed the Democratic claims of election “sabotage.”
Johnson said public outcry over the mail smacked of “ginned up” effort to rally voters – a “political hit job.”
The hearing was held remotely as Congress is on recess and lawmakers have been conducting much of their business during the coronavirus outbreak in virtual settings.
The Postal Service has been struggling financially under a decline in mail volume, COVID-related costs and a rare and some say cumbersome congressional requirement to fund in advance its retiree health care benefits.