Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Preparing to Leave USPS, Prompting Reaction From Georgia Senator

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is getting ready to step down from the top job at the U.S. Postal Service, ending a run of more than four years marked by disputes over delayed mail, cost-cutting and political scrutiny. Politico first reported the plans.

DeJoy has asked the agency's board of governors to start looking for his replacement. He has run the Postal Service since June 2020. The change in leadership comes as worries about mail delivery continue to draw attention.

Under DeJoy, the agency is four years into a 10-year plan to cut billions of dollars in costs each year, with the goal of improving its long-term financial footing. His management has been criticized from both parties, with complaints focusing on mail delays, blocked visits to postal facilities and disputes over mail-in ballots during the 2020 election.

DeJoy, a former logistics executive and a major fundraiser for President Donald Trump, was appointed by the USPS Board of Governors in 2020. Democrats scrutinized the selection from the start, questioning his part in slowing mail delivery ahead of that year's election. They repeatedly called for his removal, while Republicans also took issue with some of his policies.

He nevertheless stayed on through President Joe Biden's term, because the president neither appoints nor directly removes the postmaster general. His exit now gives Trump an opening to influence who leads the agency.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, has been among DeJoy's sharpest critics, pointing to persistent delays that have affected families, businesses and veterans. After the announcement, Ossoff urged the board of governors to choose a successor who will "swiftly restore normal service that Georgia families and businesses can rely on."

His complaints reflect problems reported in the state. Over the past year, Georgians have described significant delays in receiving prescriptions, Veterans Affairs appointment notices and other essential mail. Last month, Ossoff opened an inquiry with DeJoy, calling on USPS to guarantee timely deliveries, especially for veterans who depend on medications by mail.

Ossoff has also questioned DeJoy under oath at a Senate hearing about the ongoing delays. He introduced the Postmaster General Reform Act of 2024, which would have the president appoint the postmaster general, subject to Senate confirmation, bringing the position in line with other executive roles.

The board of governors will now begin choosing DeJoy's successor. Whoever takes over will inherit financial pressures, concerns about service reliability and continued political scrutiny. Postal customers, lawmakers and USPS employees are all watching to see who will lead the agency next.