Profile in Courage: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy

For decades, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has experienced rising costs and declining service. America’s mail carrier lost nearly $9 billion last year and unfunded liabilities now total more than $160 billion. For all this red ink, the USPS has yet to deliver a ten-year business plan (which was supposed to be delivered last summer) or turn around sliding on-time percentages. Fortunately, the new Postmaster General (PMG), Louis DeJoy, values reform and operational improvements over excuse-making and complacency. DeJoy is an outsider, working his way up in the private sector for decades while doing business with the USPS. His ample experience gives him unique insight into the failings of the struggling agency, which he is determined to fix regardless of the countless personal attacks directed at him. And for standing firm in his resolve to turn around the USPS, PMG DeJoy is truly a Profile in Courage.

Louis DeJoy’s appointment as PMG marks a sharp departure from the postal status-quo because DeJoy is the first PMG in more than 20 years without experience working at the USPS. Instead of ascending the ranks at the USPS like his predecessors, DeJoy made a name for himself in the business world. His remarkable career took off in 1983 when DeJoy became the CEO and chairman of a then-obscure company called New Breed Logistics. When the future PMG first took the helm of the company, New Breed was a small, regional operation that employed just ten workers. By the time that New Breed was acquired by XPO Logistics in 2014, the company boasted a workforce of nearly 7,000 spread out over more than 70 locations across the country. Post-acquisition, DeJoy became CEO of XPO’s supply chain business in North America and subsequently served on XPO’s board of directors from 2015 to 2018. DeJoy’s three decades of experience in the logistics sector made him a prime candidate for the role of Postmaster General following reports in late 2019 that then-PMG Megan Brennan would soon be retiring. On May 6, 2020, the USPS Board of Governors announced the bipartisan and unanimous selection of DeJoy to serve as the 75^th Postmaster General. In the announcement, the Board cited his work background and previous collaboration with the USPS.

Since assuming the role on June 15, PMG DeJoy has hit the ground running in reforming the USPS. In response to reports by the Inspector General that rampant overtime by postal workers was leading to runaway costs, DeJoy forbade mail deliveries from going out late. If mail was processed late and sent to post offices for deliveries late in the day, post offices were instructed to hold the mail until the next day instead of running up overtime costs. These reforms, coupled with the streamlining of processing operations, will break the current vicious cycle of late deliveries while saving taxpayers more than $200 million per year in unnecessary trips. While first-class mail is arriving a day later than usual in part due to post offices adjusting to this change, marketing mail (i.e. how mail-in ballots are sent to voters) is actually running a bit faster than usual. And, at least in the Pacific Region, first-class on-time percentages are quickly rebounding. Unfortunately, lawmakers and pundits have chosen to ignore this context and attack PMG DeJoy for “kneecapping” and “dismantling” the USPS.

There’s been no shortage of misinformation about this purported conspiracy to destroy America’s mail carrier, and false claims are a dime-a-dozen. For example, it was widely reported that PMG DeJoy sacked or sidelined dozens of USPS executives in a bid to consolidate power. In reality, two executives were removed from the organizational chart while at least five long-time USPS employees were promoted to more senior roles. Conspiracy allegations reached fever pitch amid reports that DeJoy was ordering the removal of mail collection boxes and sorting machines, even though these removals were longstanding postal policy. As a result of poorly placed collection boxes and unnecessary sorting machines, manpower was being directed away from critical priorities such as handling election mail and medication deliveries. The false claims continued and DeJoy was forced to answer mostly nonsensical questions before the Senate and House on August 21 and 24 respectively.

Despite the abuse heaped on DeJoy by lawmakers, pundits, and famed musicians, the embattled PMG will continue to lead the charge in reforming the USPS. Efficiency and pricing reforms will save taxpayers a pretty penny, while maintaining the integrity of voting across the country. And for his tireless efforts, Postmaster General DeJoy is truly a Profile in Courage.