The U.S. Postal Service is now more important than ever, and Trump wants to put an unqualified donor in charge.
We need a qualified Postmaster General who's committed to strengthening the USPS and serving our country, not a partisan cheerleader -- especially now that we're staring down an election where million
Danielle,
Quick: Name the U.S. Postmaster General.
Drawing a blank? If so, I understand — they don't usually make the headlines. Typically, they're public servants who quietly rise through the ranks of the U.S. Postal Service before getting the top job.
And their nonpartisan work is powerfully important, especially right now. We're counting on the USPS to deliver essential medicine and supplies, help keep us connected, and even protect our very democracy by making it possible to vote by mail.
But you know who's been appointed as the Trump administration's new Postmaster General? An unqualified political donor named Louis DeJoy — and he's making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
First, he's never spent a day working at the USPS, but he has donated more than $2 million to the Trump campaign and other Republicans since 2016. He's like the Betsy DeVos of the Postal Service — no experience in the classroom, but plenty of practice writing big checks to the GOP.
Second, he might be clearing house already. Just this week, we got word that the Deputy Postmaster General has also resigned, paving the way for DeJoy to pick his own #2 — who'll work on vote-by-mail.
We need a qualified Postmaster General who's committed to strengthening the USPS and serving our country, not a partisan cheerleader — especially now that we're staring down an election where millions could vote by mail.
Like a lot of organizations, the USPS is under heavy financial pressure right now. Congress needs to take action to shore up the Postal Service, and the agency needs experienced, independent leadership.
A strong USPS is vital to one of our biggest priorities this year: making it possible for every eligible voter to stay safe without staying silent in our democracy. That means enhancing the safety of in-person voting and expanding vote-by-mail — and that depends on the Postal Service.
We've already seen mail carriers and other USPS workers risk their own health to ensure that America keeps running. They deserve a leader who will honor their hard work by running an agency free of political interference.
But the president of the American Postal Workers Union — a vital institution fighting for public-sector workers — has released a statement saying he was "deeply concerned" with the process behind a right-wing megadonor ending up as Postmaster General.
There's a lot at stake for the USPS right now, and a lot of decisions to be made about its future. We need to protect its workers and connect our country with continued service, not higher rates, cutbacks, or privatization.
The Trump administration is once again putting another wealthy donor into a position that demands real experience and leadership — and at a time when survival of the USPS couldn't be more critical.
This is corruption at its worst. I'm going to keep fighting to root corruption out of our government and put power in the hands of the people — but I can't do it alone. It's going to take a grassroots movement, and that's exactly what we're building together.
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