Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley Urges Biden to Replace Postmaster General DeJoy, Entire USPS Board with Diverse Leadership

Calls for Board Reflective of Postal Workforce, Including Women, People of Color and Those with Direct USPS Experience

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) sent a letter to President Biden today urging him to remove Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the entire United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, and appoint a diverse Board with the experience and skills needed to represent the public interest and restore the integrity of the USPS.

“Under the failed leadership of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the negligence and complicity of the current members of the Board of Governors, the postal workforce has suffered, delivery and critical services have been cut, and our communities have experienced unparalleled hurt,” the Congresswoman wrote in her letter. “These actions and clear dereliction of duty and service to the American people require accountability.”

Since taking the helm of the USPS in June, Postmaster General DeJoy has sabotaged the agency when the nation needed it most, implementing operational changes resulting in drastic delays during a federal election and in the midst of the ongoing global pandemic. These changes continue to compromise the people’s ability to receive everything from paychecks to life-saving medication, and the Board’s ongoing support for these harmful changes jeopardizes the progress the Biden Administration is making to end the pandemic and economic crisis.

“As President, you have full authority to replace the Board of Governors and appoint a new slate of leaders. I encourage you to ensure your appointees are reflective of the 600,000 dedicated workers they will lead,” the Congresswoman continued. “As we work to build back better, it is critical that you replace the Board of Governors with leaders committed to representing the public interest and ensure that we are doing the work to restore public trust and integrity in the USPS as the essential institution that it is.”

Congresswoman Pressley specifically urged the President to appoint a Board of Governors that includes women, people of color, and individuals who have direct experience working for the USPS and serving their communities. She also called for Governors who have diverse areas of expertise, including experience with vote-by-mail logistics and workers’ rights advocacy.

In August, Congresswoman Pressley delivered remarks on the House floor in which she criticized the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans for their attacks on the USPS, and shared stories of constituents from the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District who have been impacted by the operational changes imposed on the USPS by Postmaster General DeJoy.

In a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley questioned DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan about the harmful impact the recent policy changes at the USPS have had on the workforce, and about the troubling history of anti-union labor practices of Mr. DeJoy’s former company, New Breed Logistics. In that hearing, she called on Mr. DeJoy to resign or be removed by the USPS Board of Governors immediately.