In the 2020 presidential campaign, as the pandemic guaranteed a record number of mail-in ballots, former President Donald Trump worked tirelessly to sow doubt and distrust in the centuries-old institution of voting by mail.
Trump falsely claimed the system was rife with fraud and challenged any state's attempt to loosen restrictions on voting by mail during a pandemic.
A key component of this effort was Postmaster Louis DeJoy, a longtime Republican governor who donated $700 thousand to Trump's 2017 inauguration. DeJoy was appointed by the United States Postal Services' Board of Governors in June of 2020, despite having no postal experience.
Under DeJoy, the Postal Service (USPS) saw decreased reliability, especially when it came to mail-in ballots. USPS data found poor rates of ballot deliveries in key swing states ahead of the 2020 election, prompting some to accuse DeJoy of deliberately sabotaging the USPS in order to swing the election for Trump.
Now, DeJoy is once again facing national scrutiny after the USPS warned of imminent slower delivery times and temporary price increases as part of DeJoy's 10 year service plan, announced in March, which saw a substantial withdrawal of consumer services provided by the USPS.
The changes will permanently widen delivery windows for first class package and—during the holiday season—increase prices on domestic package service.
Unfortunately, President Joe Biden has no legal way of directly firing DeJoy, as that prerogative belongs to the independent Postal Service Board of Governors that appointed him.
Nevertheless, people are calling for DeJoy's removal.
Why is DeJoy still being allowed to slow up the mail?— Chris Hahn (@Chris Hahn) 1632917476
Just a reminder that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy doesn't want to fix the USPS, he wants to destroy it.\n\nThat's why he was hired.\nHe needs to be FIRED.pic.twitter.com/oGDHhu2evv— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1632886358
It's outrageous. I understand it takes board action. Change the board. This part does not have to be like taking a criminal case to court. Maybe it should be but just #gethimout
— Betty (@parkerspolitics) September 28, 2021
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy STILL hasn't been fired yet.\n\nRemove him before he permanently damages our mail delivery system.— Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1632874120
Why is Dejoy still employed with USPS?\n#USPS delivery to slow and holiday season prices will increasehttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/28/usps-delivery-get-slower-more-expensive-during-holidays/5893001001/\u00a0\u2026— Barbara Infanger (@Barbara Infanger) 1632884367
Why haven't they fired DeJoy?https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/28/usps-delivery-get-slower-more-expensive-during-holidays/5893001001/\u00a0\u2026— Dawn Davis (@Dawn Davis) 1632874582
For God's sake...\nTake DeJoy out of the Post Office!\n\nUSPS mail delivery is about to get permanently slower and temporarily more expensive\n\nScrub the Trump scum stains from our America please\n\n https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/28/usps-delivery-get-slower-more-expensive-during-holidays/5893001001/\u00a0\u2026 via @usatoday— Herbert (@Herbert) 1632859146
They accused him of working to enrich himself at the expense of the Postal Service.
Louis DeJoy earned millions from companies that directly compete with the USPS and he\u2019s being investigated by the FBI for campaign finance law violations. \n\nUm, who left him in charge to f*** up our mail service?? Get him OUT!https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/28/usps-delivery-get-slower-more-expensive-during-holidays/5893001001/\u00a0\u2026— Heather Gardner (@Heather Gardner) 1632925392
Louis DeJoy makes money from USPS competitors. He is hurting all of us to enrich himself.\n\nLouis DeJoy and his collaborators belong in prison.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/09/28/usps-delivery-get-slower-more-expensive-during-holidays/5893001001/\u00a0\u2026— Dr. Alex Wild (@Dr. Alex Wild) 1632876126
DeJoy is reportedly under criminal investigation for campaign finance violations.
