Louis DeJoy, the embattled Postmaster General, will step down after a consequential five-year tenure defined by operational upheaval at the U.S. Postal Service. His leadership saw the agency navigate unprecedented mail-in voting demands, pandemic-era delivery bottlenecks, and aggressive financial restructuring that sparked nationwide debates about service reliability.
DeJoy formally requested the USPS Board of Governors begin succession planning on Monday, stating in a letter:
We have served the American people through an unprecedented pandemic and through a period of high inflation and sensationalized politics.
Key developments during DeJoy’s tenure include:
- A 10-year modernization plan raising postage rates 6 times since 2020
- Consolidation of 18 mail processing centers amid service delays
- Two presidential elections with record 43% mail ballot usage in 2020
The controversial reforms generated $2.8 billion in savings but drew fire from legislators. Rural advocates argued consolidation caused “unacceptable lag times” in medication deliveries, while union leaders criticized overtime restrictions implemented during 2020 election mail surges. A federal judge later blocked parts of DeJoy’s cost-cutting agenda, citing risks to vote-by-mail systems.
Despite challenges, DeJoy maintains his Delivering for America initiative achieved critical infrastructure upgrades at 60+ facilities. We're replacing antiquated systems that predate ZIP codes,he testified to Congress in September 2023.
With new leadership pending, analysts predict intensified scrutiny on USPS electric vehicle fleet adoption plans and proposed 2025 stamp price increases. The agency reported $6.5 billion in losses last fiscal year despite 2% revenue growth.
