Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reiterated calls Wednesday for the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to disclose additional information about the selection of GOP donor Louis DeJoy for postmaster general.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Robert Duncan, chair of the USPS Board of Governors, Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote that Russell Reynolds Associates, the search firm used to select DeJoy, refused to cooperate with his staff, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
“This administration has repeatedly pointed to the role of Russell Reynolds to defend the selection of a Republican mega-donor with no prior postal experience as Postmaster General,” Schumer wrote. “I request that you immediately release Russell Reynolds from any non-disclosure agreement so that Congress and the communities served by the Postal Service can obtain the full story behind Mr. DeJoy’s selection. “
In addition, Schumer asked that the board provide a “complete and fulsome explanation” of the roles President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin played in selecting DeJoy.
DeJoy has come under fire in recent weeks from Democrats over delays in mail delivery, particularly after The Washington Post reported that USPS warned election officials in 46 states that some ballots in November may not be delivered in time because of inconsistencies with different state deadlines and the agency’s delivery capacity.
In addition, Democrats have criticized DeJoy for trying to make operational changes to the Postal Service ahead of the election and accused the USPS of trying to undermine the election by encouraging election administrators to move to a higher postal rate.
DeJoy said Tuesday he would suspend “long-standing operational initiatives” until after the election “to avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail.”
Schumer, who spoke with DeJoy Tuesday, also sent a follow-up letter to him Wednesday asking for more detail about which operational changes would be paused and a list of locations where mail processing equipment and collection boxes were recently removed, among other issues.
Some Senate Republicans have also raised concern about delays at USPS. In a letter sent this week, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) requested DeJoy work with Congress and meet with him to discuss potential reforms to the Postal Service.
DeJoy is scheduled to testify Friday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee’s chair, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), said he wanted to provide DeJoy the opportunity to testify before the Republican-led committee ahead of his Monday appearance before the House Oversight Committee.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who spoke with DeJoy Wednesday, will also hold a rare Saturday vote on legislation that would provide $25 billion to USPS, briefly interrupting the August recess. Trump on Wednesday assailed the House hearing, which will take place as the Republican National Convention begins, tagging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who has no say on the House schedule.
“Why are Republicans allowing the Democrats to have ridiculous Post Office hearings on Saturday & Monday, just before and during our Convention,” Trump tweeted. “Let them hold them NOW (during their Convention) or after our Convention is over. Always playing right into their hands! @senatemajldr.”
McConnell said earlier this week that USPS would be “just fine” ahead of the November election.
Senate Republicans are currently reviewing text of a “skinny” coronavirus relief bill that is expected to provide $10 billion to USPS, by converting a loan into a grant. That smaller relief package is not expected to get support from Senate Democrats. A Senate Democratic aide said Wednesday, "It's pretty clear that Republicans still don’t have a clue as to how to meet the urgent needs of Americans nor how to correct for President Trump’s total failure to effectively fight the spread of COVID-19."
Zach Montellaro contributed to this story.
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