The Guardian declined timely mail delivery under General Post Manager Louis DeGoy, a senior Republican hardliner appointed by Donald Trump in June.
The Guardian reported that timely mail delivery accelerated under Louis Deguy, a senior Republican hardliner general post manager appointed by Donald Trump in June. Some postal areas, including the Ohio Valley, have seen their summer delivery rates fall from around 91% – when Dejoy was assigned – to 69.7% for first-class mail. (Northern Ohio rates are down to 63%.)
After Dejoy took control, he immediately called for operational changes that he said would improve USPS efficiency. But these tactics, including indirect sorting machines and limiting mail carrier overtime, were widely seen as attempts to deprive voters of their right to vote. DeJoy’s goal was to slow delivery before the decisive election in which a large number of people are expected to vote by mail in light of COVID-19.
Due to a federal court order, Dejoy’s changes were halted after the election. But delivery rates have been slow to respond. In Baltimore, the Guardian reported that in late August the rate of timely delivery of first-class letters and large parcels remained below 60%.
According to Guardian data, a USPS statement confirmed that timely prices were rising again in September, which is certainly in the Ohio Valley (up to 85% for first-class mail). But the advertised delivery time of 1-3 days for first-class mail is less and less than guaranteed.
