On Monday, Louis DeJoy officially resigned from his position as the head of the US Postal Service (USPS), leaving the independent government agency at a critical juncture. His departure comes amid ongoing discussions regarding privatization and increased scrutiny from the Trump administration. In a statement issued by USPS, DeJoy acknowledged the significant changes made during his tenure, stating that the 250-year-old service had undergone “beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization.” However, he emphasized that more work is necessary “to sustain our positive trajectory.”
DeJoy expressed his pride in being associated with the USPS, calling it “one of the pleasures of my life and a crowning achievement of my career.” Following his resignation, Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will assume leadership until the USPS Board of Governors appoints a permanent successor. A USPS statement clarified that there is no “established timeline” for revealing DeJoy’s replacement, leaving the agency in a state of uncertainty.
DeJoy was appointed as postmaster general during a tumultuous time when the USPS was grappling with financial challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. He announced plans to step down in February, having led the agency through a crucial period that included two high-turnout presidential elections characterized by a surge in mail-in ballots. In 2021, DeJoy unveiled a 10-year plan aimed at modernizing the USPS and addressing ongoing financial losses.
Despite his efforts, some of DeJoy’s initiatives faced backlash, particularly his proposals to consolidate deliveries, which critics argued resulted in slower service. Additionally, he suggested increasing postage rates, stating in 2022 that Americans should prepare for “uncomfortable” rate hikes to help stabilize the self-funded agency. Under his leadership, the cost of a First-Class domestic postage stamp for a standard-sized envelope rose from $0.55 to $0.73.
As the USPS is currently four years into a reorganization initiative aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency, former President Donald Trump has expressed a desire for even more significant changes. Trump has proposed granting oversight of the USPS to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, a departure from the current governance by the board of governors. “We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money, and we’re thinking about doing that, and it will be a form of a merger,” Trump stated during Lutnick’s swearing-in ceremony shortly after DeJoy announced his resignation.
This proposed restructuring could signal a potential shift toward privatization, a change that tech billionaire and White House adviser Elon Musk called for earlier this month. Following this, DeJoy informed Congress that he had signed an agreement allowing Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to collaborate with the Postal Service. DeJoy mentioned that the USPS would concentrate on enhancing the management of its retirement assets and the Workers’ Compensation Program, which he claimed had been “mismanaged.”
Since DeJoy’s appointment, the USPS has reduced its workforce by roughly 30,000 employees, and plans are in place to cut an additional 10,000 positions through a voluntary early retirement program. Currently, the agency employs about 635,000 workers across the United States.
This article has been updated to include additional details. Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Chris Isidore and Gabe Cohen.
