WASHINGTON — Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asked the Postal Service Board of Governors to begin the process of selecting his successor, putting a cap on his nearly five years in the role overseeing the delivery of mail throughout the U.S. that was oftentimes contentious. 

What You Need To Know

  • Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asked the Postal Service Board of Governors to begin the process of selecting his successor, putting a cap on his nearly five years in the role overseeing the delivery of mail throughout the U.S. that was oftentimes contentious
  • In a letter informing the board of governors of his intent to step down, DeJoy, who assumed the postmaster general position in June 2020, reflected on leading the U.S. Postal Service through the COVID-19 pandemic, during a period in which the nation was experiencing high inflation and through what he referred to as a time of “sensationalized politics"
  • The four-plus-year tenure of DeJoy, who entered the position with a history of donating to Republicans and fundraising for President Donald Trump, featured moments of controversy, particularly over mail-in voting during the 2020 election, and saw him come under fire from both sides

In a letter informing the Board of Governors of his intent to step down, DeJoy, who assumed the postmaster general position in June 2020, reflected on leading the U.S. Postal Service through the COVID-19 pandemic, during a period in which the nation was experiencing high inflation and through what he referred to as a time of “sensationalized politics.” 

“After four and half years leading one of America’s greatest public institutions through dramatic change during unusual times, it is time for me to start thinking about the next phase of my life, while also ensuring that the Postal Service is fully prepared for the future,” he said in a statement. 

In the letter dated Monday, DeJoy went on to tout his efforts to reduce the costs of operations and increase revenue over his time in the role, declaring that the Postal Service is “on the path to fulfilling its long neglected legal duty to operate in a self-financing manner.” He included a list of strategies and goals, focused mainly on cost-cutting, that he said would be key to keeping the Postal Service on such a trajectory.

It comes after the announcement of a 10-year restructuring plan in March 2021 that he said would transform USPS from “an organization in financial and operational crisis to one that is self-sustaining and high performing.”

Over the 2024 fiscal year, USPS reported losing $1.8 billion in what it calls controllable losses, down from $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2023. 

“While there remains much critical work to be done to ensure that the Postal Service can be financially viable as we continue to serve the nation in our essential public service mission, I have decided it is time to start the process of identifying my successor and of preparing the Postal Service for this change,” DeJoy said in a statement. 

The four-plus-year tenure of DeJoy, who entered the position with a history of donating to Republicans and fundraising for President Donald Trump, featured moments of controversy, particularly over mail-in voting during the 2020 election, and saw him come under fire from both sides.