USPS Postmaster General grilled by Sen. Ossoff, others about mail delivery problems

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday morning about postal woes in Georgia and several other states opened with statements by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who admitted to problems within the USPS during his opening statements.

According to DeJoy, their pursuit of long-term viability should have begun over a decade ago, and the failure to modernize the USPS infrastructure has been self-destructive.

Postal Regulatory Commission Chairman Michael M. Kubayanda then explained how USPS service quality in Georgia, Virginia, and Texas continues to decline.

Kubayanda specifically mentioned the length of time it currently takes for individual letters and cards mailed within the Atlanta area to arrive. According to Kubayanda, letters and cards that should arrive in a "generous two-day window" met that standard only 16% of the time in March.

USPS moving in the wrong direction 

Kubayanda said that the issues with USPS are alarming and that USPS is currently moving in the wrong direction to fix the issues. Kubayanda also said that the commission's findings should raise concerns with the election that is scheduled for this fall and the role that mail-in ballots are expected to play.

When it was Sen. Jon Ossoff's turn to question DeJoy, he didn't hold back. Ossoff demanded to know why mail and packages aren't being delivered on time in Georgia, pointing out that letters and cards mailed in the metro Atlanta area have only been delivered on time 16% of the time in the last month..

When DeJoy started to say that he knew Georgia had been one of their worst-served areas in the last 10 years, Ossoff interrupted him and said he didn't want to talk about the last 10 years, he wanted to talk about the last 3 months.

Operational failure in Georgia

Ossoff pressured DeJoy to explain exactly why there has been an "operational failure" in Georgia and why the USPS wasn't better prepared to handle the issues that resulted when the new processing and distribution Palmetto facility opened in February.

RELATED: Ossoff: USPS mail delays 'a failure of the Postal Service'

DeJoy replied that the issues should be resolved within 60 days, but the answer didn't satisfy Ossoff.

Ossoff was also displeased when DeJoy admitted that he had not read the letter that the senator sent him on March 14. When DeJoy replied he had not read the letter, Ossoff raised his voice and asked, "YOU HAVEN'T READ THE LETTER??"

Ossoff went on to point out that it might be a good idea for DeJoy to read letters sent to him by United States senators.

"Let me, let me just give you just a friendly piece of advice. You should personally read letters from members of the U.S. Senate Committee that funds and oversees your operations, particularly where you are failing abysmally to fulfill your core mission in my state," Ossoff said. 

"The amount of distress this is causing my constituents is massive. And I want to know what you are going to do, what specific steps you are going to take to fix this within two weeks?" Ossoff then demanded. 

DeJoy replied that they are looking at staffing, truck schedules, machinery, and other transportation aspects. DeJoy told the senator that his team is "working very hard" and that "in the long run," the facility in Georgia should be one of the best.

"The long run is too long. You've got weeks, not months to fix this. And if you don't fix it, 36% on-time delivery, I don't think you're fit for this job," Ossoff replied. 

The postmaster general also told the senators that the Palmetto facility went from processing mail by hand to processing a million pieces a night. 

Not fit for the job

Ossoff made it clear to DeJoy that "in the long run" wasn't a satisfactory answer and that if he didn't get the issues resolved in a matter of weeks and not months, then he doesn't believe DeJoy is fit for the job as postmaster general. 

The testimony comes as nearly every member of Georgia's congressional delegation has been asking DeJoy for answers. 

Just want answers

"We simply want to know what the problem is, what the solution is," said Congressman Mike Collins, a Republican who represents the 10th District. "When do you plan on implementing those solutions so when the people of Georgia can get back to some sense of normalcy?"

Collins said that DeJoy just agreed to speak with him on the phone later this month, following a letter he sent in December. 

The opening of the Palmetto facility was supposed to help with the issues that began Since then, the opening of the postal service's processing and distribution center in Palmetto hasn't helped. 

It opened in February and was supposed to make the service more efficient.

Collins said the opposite has happened.

"My question is what is happening in Palmetto? Have you caused a bigger problem by trying to upgrade a system in Palmetto, Georgia?" he asked. 

"I'm optimistic about the changes and it's probably to no one's satisfaction in this room or in this town, but it's what we got, this is the plan," DeJoy said. "We're moving forward and that is in fact, having an impact." 

Another bipartisan group sent DeJoy a letter on Friday.

"As USPS implements changes to its network, USPS must ensure no Georgians, especially those with limited mobility options and urgent needs, are left behind for the sake of modernization," it reads.

They also asked the Inspector General to expand his audit of the Palmetto facility.

In a previous statement, the post office apologized for the problems and provided a statement, stating, "Local management has been made aware of the concerns of some local customers regarding their mail delivery and are working quickly to resolve any issues." They also shared a contact number for customers experiencing problems: 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

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DeJoy was also questioned by senators from Oklahoma, Nevada, and Michigan. The USPS Board of Governors Chairman Roman Martinez IV and USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull were also present at the hearing. 

"We're finding that as the Postal Service implements these changes, significant operational issues are arising that affect service to customers and take time to resolve," said Tammy Hull, USPS Inspector General. 

In Palmetto, DeJoy says they expect to be fully staffed this month, but delivery delays could continue into the summer. An audit by the inspector general is underway.