Louis DeJoy, the head of the struggling U.S. Postal Service, resigned on Monday after nearly five years in the role. His departure comes as discussions around privatizing the postal service have gained traction, with figures like President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency suggesting potential changes.
DeJoy had previously announced his intention to step down, though he hadn’t specified a timeline. He leaves behind an agency facing an uncertain future. Trump has proposed placing the USPS under the control of the Commerce Department as a way to address the financial difficulties of the $78 billion-a-year organization, which has struggled with declining first-class mail volumes.
Doug Tulino, the Deputy Postmaster General, will temporarily take over DeJoy’s responsibilities until a permanent replacement is appointed by the Postal Service Board of Governors. DeJoy, who became Postmaster General in the summer of 2020 during Trump’s first term, was a Republican donor with a logistics business background. He was the first individual in nearly 20 years to hold the position without a career in postal service.
DeJoy’s tenure was shaped by challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in mail-in election ballots, and efforts to address USPS’s financial struggles through cost and service reductions.
In a statement, DeJoy expressed confidence in the Postal Service’s future, stating that he believed the organization was well-positioned to implement its ongoing transformation and modernization efforts. He also mentioned working closely with Tulino to ensure a smooth transition.
Louis DeJoy, who resigned as head of the U.S. Postal Service on Monday, emphasized that “much work remains” to sustain the agency’s positive progress.
Brian L. Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, expressed the union’s readiness to collaborate with whoever is selected as the next postmaster general. He stressed that the future of the Postal Service is critical, and it is essential to choose a leader with innovative ideas and respect for the service’s constitutional role.
Earlier this month, DeJoy proposed significant cuts, including reducing the USPS workforce by 10,000 employees and slashing billions from the budget. He mentioned that these changes would be carried out with the involvement of DOGE, as outlined in a letter to Congress members.
USPS workers, particularly mail carriers, have organized protests against these proposed cuts, arguing that the plan would ultimately dismantle the service. Critics, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, have warned that handing control over to DOGE would lead to the privatization and weakening of the Postal Service.
The U.S. Postal Service employs approximately 640,000 workers who handle deliveries across a wide range of areas, from urban centers to remote rural locations and distant islands.
