Peters Presses Postal Service for Answers on Potential Changes to Delivery Network

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is pressing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide answers about planned changes to its processing and delivery network that could affect timely delivery. In a letter, Peters expressed concern over USPS’s insufficient responses to his prior requests for information and demanded full transparency about potential changes that could disrupt regular delivery service in communities across the country. Peters also called on USPS to pause these network changes until it can prove the changes will not negatively impact mail service, including rural service, election mail delivery, and delivery of other critical mail. 

“USPS continues to move forward with facility changes, despite unanswered questions about the impacts on communities — and despite USPS’s initial promises that it would study the impacts of early changes before moving forward with its plan.” wrote Senator Peters. “The nature of USPS’s network changes has now raised significant concerns including the potential for degraded rural service due to fewer facilities, delayed delivery of election mail that would be processed at out-of-state facilities, and critical health information such as laboratory tests not being processed same-day due to decreased transportation trips.” 

Peters has championed efforts to protect the Postal Service and its 250-year tradition of delivery service to all Americans. In February, Peters pressed the USPS to provide further details regarding proposed changes to mail operations at its Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center. Following hisinvestigation into changes that severely slowed down mail delivery in 2020, Peters authored and led passage of a historic, bipartisan law to set the Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country. The law made the first major reforms to the Postal Service in more than 15 years, including requiring six-day delivery.  

The text of the letter is copied below and available here.   

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy: 

I write to express my significant concerns about the U.S. Postal Service’s lack of transparency regarding planned changes to its processing and delivery network, and its insufficient responses to my December 5, 2023 letter about these changes. The Postal Service must be transparent about these network changes and their impacts on local service and communities.  

My December 5 letter requested detailed information about the full scope and timelines for the network changes, how USPS has assessed the projected service impacts, and additional information about impacts to employees and communities. USPS has not provided sufficient answers about the impacts of its network plans. In particular, USPS has failed to provide: any detailed assessments regarding the projected service impacts of these changes (for individual facilities and for the plan as a whole); any indication it will systematically study the impacts of initial changes before moving forward with its plan; timelines for the facility changes it intends to implement, including in 2024; and detailed information on additional impacts including costs, employee attrition, and other effects. I am disappointed by the quality and quantity of the information provided, given that USPS plans affect communities across the nation. 

USPS continues to move forward with facility changes, despite unanswered questions about the impacts on communities — and despite USPS’s initial promises that it would study the impacts of early changes before moving forward with its plan. On February 15, I sent a letter highlighting concerns after USPS announced a potential facility change in Michigan. The nature of USPS’s network changes has now raised significant concerns including the potential for degraded rural service due to fewer facilities, delayed delivery of election mail that would be processed at out-of-state facilities, and critical health information such as laboratory tests not being processed same-day due to decreased transportation trips. These changes and lack of transparency have also caused concerns for other Members of Congress, who have asked for similar information and received insufficient responses.

I am increasingly concerned about the pace and impacts of these changes, and reiterate my request for fully responsive answers to my questions. I also call on USPS to pause all network changes until it can clearly demonstrate that such changes will not degrade local mail service. This will be a top oversight priority for this Committee. I look forward to discussing these issues directly with you soon in addition to your full written response, which we request by April 1. 

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. 

###