Postal Service Blocks Lawmakers From Visiting USPS Facilities Before Election

Topline

The U.S. Postal Service is barring lawmakers from touring postal facilities ahead of Election day claiming potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan activities, raising suspicions about the agency and its lack of transparency as Congress has intensified scrutiny on the USPS and its role in the November election.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“Members of Congress have a responsibility to conduct oversight of federal services, particularly when we hear from constituents that those services are not functioning properly,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) told the Post. Peters successfully visited postal facilities over the summer as part of an investigation into recent changes at the USPS, which his office found resulted in significant mail delays.

Chief Critic

“The Postal Service welcomes visits from members of Congress at our facilities and we routinely arrange for tours. We also take our responsibilities with respect to the Hatch Act very seriously,” Partenheimer said in an email to Forbes, noting that the 45-day ban also applies to other USPS events like post office dedications and events for a stamp’s first day of issue, but does not apply to congressional staff. “We are happy to engage with any members directly to address the concerns they have in lieu of a tour during this 45 day period and routinely hold field level congressional briefings with congressional staff.”

Key Background

Congressional Democrats have been one of the most prominent critics of the USPS in recent months, as new changes implemented under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy—which are now being reversed in response to multiple court orders—have sparked widespread mail delays. Those delays and DeJoy’s history as a GOP fundraiser and Trump donor have spurred fears among Democrats that the delays will hurt the delivery of election mail, and that DeJoy is working with President Donald Trump to intentionally undermine mail-in voting. (DeJoy has repeatedly denied this, and said that election mail is the agency’s “number one priority” ahead of November 3.) As a result, Democrats in Congress have launched investigations into the USPS changes, called DeJoy to testify, issued a subpoena for documents and passed House legislation that would reverse DeJoy’s changes and allocate additional funding for the agency.

Tangent

The Hatch Act has regularly come up under the Trump administration, as administration officials have repeatedly been accused of violating the federal ethics law through their support of President Donald Trump—though the alleged violations have rarely been enforced.

Further Reading

USPS says it’s too close to the election for most of Congress to inspect facilities (Washington Post)

Congresswoman Blocked From Surprise Visit To USPS Facilities Amid Mail Delays  (Forbes)

‘Deceitful’: Postal union leader testifies that visiting U.S. congressman was duped during San Antonio post office visit (San Antonio Express-News)

Postal Service Reversing DeJoy’s Changes, But Says It Can’t Reinstall All Sorting Machines (Forbes)

Postal Service Agrees To Destroy Colorado Postcards With Mail-In Voting Misinformation After Uproar From States (Forbes)

Here’s Why Trump Officials Rarely Face Penalties For Hatch Act Violations (Forbes)