House Speaker Pelosi Considers Cutting Short Legislative Recess to Address USPS Concerns

Strategic Insights -

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic leaders are considering cutting short their legislative recess to address growing concerns about the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) ability to handle mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USPS appears to be dissolving, with concerns about its ability to deliver mail-in ballots on time. The House may return to address the agency problems within the next two weeks, with the next votes scheduled for Sept. 14. Democratic lawmakers have accused President Donald Trump and his hand-picked postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, of deliberately sabotaging the mail system to manipulate the vote in Trump's favor.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USPS is facing challenges in handling mail-in ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with concerns about its ability to deliver mail-in ballots on time.
  • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic leaders are considering cutting short their legislative recess to address the USPS's concerns.
  • The House may return to address the agency problems within the next two weeks, with the next votes scheduled for Sept. 14.
  • Democratic lawmakers have accused President Donald Trump and his hand-picked postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, of deliberately sabotaging the mail system to manipulate the vote in Trump's favor.
  • The USPS has banned overtime and imposed new limits on mail delivery times, and is eliminating some 15% of its automated mail-sorting machines that speed processing and delivery.
  • The agency has also begun ripping out scores of letter collection boxes in a number of states.
  • The inspector general of the USPS has launched an investigation into service cuts and ethics concerns involving DeJoy.
  • DeJoy still holds a $30 million equity stake in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor, which could conceivably partner with a competitor if the USPS stumbles.

Statistics:

  • The USPS has 46 states warning them that voters could be disenfranchised because their mail-in ballots may not be delivered in time to make election deadlines.
  • The USPS has eliminated some 15% of its automated mail-sorting machines that speed processing and delivery.
  • The agency has begun ripping out scores of letter collection boxes in a number of states.
  • DeJoy holds a $30 million equity stake in his former company, XPO Logistics, a USPS contractor.

Sources:

  • Politico: "Pelosi bracing for early return to House amid mail system concerns"
  • CNN: "Democrats accuse Trump of sabotaging the US Postal Service to win the election"
  • The Washington Post: "Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's memo calls for ending extra mail pickups, restricting overtime"
  • The Huffington Post: "Nancy Pelosi Considers Cutting Short Legislative Recess to Address USPS Concerns"