Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) is investigating delays in mail delivery.
Peters is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – which oversees the United States Postal Service.
Peters says some recent changes in policy don’t make sense.
“Reductions in overtime. Reductions in extra trips by transportation trucks to make sure that mail isn't sitting in the post office. Processing machines that are being taken out. There are a whole host of things that are happening and we need to have answers,” he says.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is an ally of President Donald Trump. There’s concern from congressional Democrats that the President’s attacks on the Postal Service and mail-in voting are attempts to influence the November election.
During the pandemic, there have been long delays in mail delivery, including absentee ballots.
U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) is a former postal worker. She says she’s concerned about politicizing the agency ahead of an election where the millions of ballots will be mailed in.
“The President of the United States daily saying how he does not want vote by mail. And unfortunately, who has made it part of his platform to attack the Postal Service,” she says.
Postmaster General DeJoy says cost-cutting measures are needed for the service. DeJoy has received criticism for his investments into competitors of the Postal Service.
