Embattled U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy delivered his letter of resignation Tuesday to the Postal Service Board of Governors. The move triggers the agency to begin the search for his replacement.
DeJoy, who has been at the helm of the Postal Service since the spring of 2020, led the organization through a period of profound operational and financial challenges.
Amber McReynolds, chairwoman of the Board of Governors, lauded DeJoy’s leadership in a statement. “Louis DeJoy has steadfastly served the nation and the Postal Service over the past five years. The Governors greatly appreciate his enduring leadership and his tireless efforts to modernize the Postal Service and reverse decades of neglect,” she said.
In 2021, DeJoy launched a modernization effort dubbed, “Delivering for America.” The ambitious initiative includes reducing costs by over $4 billion annually, increasing revenue by more than $5 billion, and reworking the operating network to integrate the delivery of all mail and package categories. The revamp comes at a time where USPS use by Americans – particularly first-class mail – dropped to its lowest since 1968, Reuters noted in a November 2024 report.
The agency boasted in its Tuesday statement that the program has shown promising results, with the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 recording $1 billion in controllable income and $140 million in GAAP income.
In his statement to the board, however, DeJoy acknowledged the disruptions in service, saying that they were part of the transformation process, and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused but emphasizing the necessity of these changes for the organization’s survival and future prosperity.
“Postmaster General is a demanding role made more difficult by the devastating condition I found the Postal Service in when I arrived and the almost unceasing resistance to change — without offering any viable solutions — from stakeholders motivated by both parochial and political purposes,” he wrote; adding, “The simplest and most obvious ideas and solutions receive illogical and irrational scrutiny from those that have no responsibility for ensuring the financial viability of the Postal Service. This, combined with industry lobbying, has held the organization back in the past from making the necessary changes. I have fought against this, and as a result I believe that I can fairly say that my tenure has been one of high expectations and vigorous action.”
Adding to the service’s woes is an alarming rise in criminal activities targeting postal workers and properties. A particularly disturbing trend has been the increase in post-truck robberies. Since May 2023, when the USPS launched “Project Safe Delivery” to combat postal crime, the organization said over 600 people have been arrested, yet the number of postal carrier robberies rose by nearly 30%, with 643 reported incidents. In a statement about the program, the organization said that criminals are largely after “arrow keys,” which provide access to multiple mailboxes, which enables theft of checks and other valuable mail items.
In his letter to the Postal Board, meanwhile, DeJoy expressed immense pride in the Postal Service’s workforce. “I am extremely proud of the 640,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service who live, work, and serve in every American community,” he wrote.
The incoming Postmaster General, the statement said, will inherit a Postal Service that has significantly altered its operational framework, invested over $18 billion in infrastructure, and is poised to compete more effectively in the current market landscape.
McReynolds said, “I commend Postmaster General DeJoy for inspiring the Postal Service with strategic direction, a competitive spirit, and a culture of achievement that comes from the successful implementation of large-scale change. I am confident this spirit of purpose will continue to grow.”
“After four and half years leading one of America’s greatest public institutions through dramatic change during unusual times, it is time for me to start thinking about the next phase of my life, while also ensuring that the Postal Service is fully prepared for the future,” DeJoy said.
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Christina Botteri is the Executive Editor of The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on X at @christinakb.
