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Postmaster DeJoy’s Testimony Previews Strategic Plan

In a March 11 hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy provided new details regarding his strategic plan for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which will be aimed at restoring financial sustainability and improving service.

The unreleased plan, DeJoy told the subcommittee, would maintain the current six-day delivery standard and pursue new investments for agency-wide improvements. He added that the plan would improve the agency’s network infrastructure with electric vehicles, updated technology and new package sorting equipment. The plan would also seek to reduce workforce turnover, including an emphasis on moving temporary USPS employees into career positions. In 2020, DeJoy said, USPS hired 200,000 new employees but did not increase its topline staffing number.

Further details about the coming strategic plan have been few and far between, but DeJoy has indicated in other recent congressional hearings that the plan would slow first class mail and cut mail air transport, potentially increasing mail delivery times for long-distance shipping. The plan is expected to be released in the coming weeks, but no specific date has been provided.

In response to criticism from Democrats on the subcommittee, DeJoy acknowledged that current USPS performance is “unacceptable,” but he also believes that solutions are within reach if Congress works with the agency to move forward. DeJoy reemphasized that his strategic plan would work in tandem with draft postal reform legislation from Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY.

As reported previously, the draft bill incorporates elements NARFE has long advocated for, including improvements to Medicare integration provisions that preserve current postal retirees’ choice regarding whether to enroll in Medicare Part B. The bill would also end the requirement that the agency fully prefund the future health insurance benefits of its retirees and aims to maintain USPS’ service standards.