Watchdog Criticizes Misinformation on Postal Service

For Immediate Release
August 14, 2020
Contact: Grace Morgan
(202-855-4380)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) slammed pundits for pedaling misinformation on the state of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Alarmism over the USPS increased considerably after August 7^th when Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced the elevation of key agency staff-members to executive roles. Critics labeled this move the “Friday Night Massacre” despite no evidence of widespread firings to consolidate DeJoy’s power. Even more controversy arose on August 11^th in response to reports that mail sorting machines were being removed from processing facilities. Critics were quick to resort to conspiracies about these removals, despite removals from only a handful of facilities. 

TPA Vice President of Policy Ross Marchand criticized the state of reporting on the USPS, stating, “the amount of misinformation out there on the USPS right now is appalling and deeply discouraging. Because of a few loud voices repeating scary-sounding headlines over an impartial analysis of the facts, hundreds of millions of Americans who regularly rely on the USPS are being misled about what’s true and what isn’t true.  Sensible moves by new Postmaster General DeJoy, such as organizational shuffling and machine allocation changes, are absolutely necessary to rebuild the agency. The USPS is more than $160 billion in debt, and hopefully the Postmaster General’s reforms will help the agency right its fiscal ship. It’s fine to disagree with these changes, but it’s far-fetched – and irresponsible – to paint these changes as a conspiracy.”

Marchand continued: “Of all the reckless claims being made, perhaps the most ridiculous have to do with mail sorting machines. After an August 11 NPR report claiming that mail processing machines were being removed from postal facilities, media figures such as Rachel Maddow alleged ‘sabotage’ ahead of the election. Yet, media organizations such as Vice have only documented machine removals from five processing facilities – out of nearly 300 facilities nationwide. That’s right: more than 98 percent of facilities remain unaffected. And, election mail is unlikely to be impacted since ballots are typically hand-sorted instead of machine-processed. These facts make for more boring headlines than ‘conspiracy’ or ‘sabotage.’ It is the duty of pundits and reporters to not politicize this information and report fairly and accurately, especially ahead of such an important election.”

Marchand concluded: “Unfortunately, postal policy is being enveloped in a thick cloud of misinformation and fearmongering. The truth is that the struggling agency has enough problems without pundits having to resort to false narratives. Policymakers must fix these critical issues and stay away from false narratives and baseless conspiracies.”

#