Louis DeJoy Bows Out: USPS at a Crossroads Amid Trump’s Big Shake-Up
Washington, D.C. – The winds of change have hit the United States Postal Service as Louis DeJoy, the controversial postmaster general, officially stepped down on Monday. His departure leaves behind a legacy of upheaval, a service at the brink of privatization, and a White House eager to reshape the 250-year-old institution.
DeJoy, a businessman-turned-government leader, took the reins of USPS at a time of crisis—crippled by financial losses, pandemic struggles, and an explosion in mail-in ballots. His vision? A radical 10-year overhaul designed to pull the agency out of the red. His reality? Rate hikes, service slowdowns, and a workforce slashed by tens of thousands. Love him or loathe him, DeJoy changed the game, and now the nation watches to see who dares to pick up where he left off.
“Beneficial changes” were made, DeJoy insists in his farewell statement. But even his admirers acknowledge that his reforms—particularly his push to consolidate deliveries—were met with fierce backlash. Critics argue he made the USPS less reliable, not more efficient. And then there’s the price hikes. A First-Class stamp now costs $0.73, a steep jump from the $0.55 price tag when DeJoy took office. His response? America better get used to “uncomfortable” rate increases.
But DeJoy’s exit doesn’t signal a return to the old ways. Quite the opposite. The agency is staring down the barrel of potential privatization, an idea championed by none other than Elon Musk and seemingly embraced by Donald Trump. The former president has hinted at merging the USPS with the Department of Commerce under Secretary Howard Lutnick—a move seen by many as step one in selling off the service.
“We want a post office that works and doesn’t bleed money,” Trump declared in February, just days after DeJoy announced his resignation. “It’ll remain the Postal Service, but it’ll operate better.”
Mark Dimondstein, head of the American Postal Workers Union, isn’t buying it. He warns that this administration is intent on “breaking up and selling off” the USPS, leading to skyrocketing postage prices and diminished service. “This attack is part of the ongoing coup by oligarchs against the vital public services Americans rely on.”
For now, Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino takes over while the USPS Board of Governors hunts for a permanent replacement. But make no mistake—this is no ordinary transition of power. The fate of one of America’s oldest institutions hangs in the balance. Will the USPS survive as a public service, or is the future private? The clock is ticking.
