Waiting on your mail? You may have to settle in, as the United States Postal Service announced it's cutting up to 10,000 workers under the leadership of Elon Musk's government efficiency office, also known as DOGE.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced plans to eliminate 10,000 jobs through a voluntary early retirement program aimed at reducing costs.
DeJoy also confirmed that he's working with DOGE to "identify and achieve further efficiencies," although he didn't outline what they are.
DeJoy met with DOGE representatives on Monday and signed an agreement with the General Services Administration for assistance. “Last night I signed an agreement with the General Services Administration and DOGE representatives to assist us in identifying and achieving further efficiencies,” DeJoy wrote in a letter to Congress.
“This is an effort aligned with our efforts, as while we have accomplished a great deal, there is much more to be done. We are happy to have others assist us in our worthwhile cause.”
This comes as the USPS reported an annual loss of nearly $10 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2024, highlighting years of financial struggles as people turn to digital communication instead of paper and mailboxes, otherwise known as 'snail mail.'
“I ask that you please engage with the Postal Service, our DOGE representatives, and the Federal agencies that need to adapt to the critically necessary changes involved and to correct for the deficiencies of the past that can and must be corrected,” DeJoy wrote to members of Congress.
Democrats didn't embrace the move to partner with DOGE. The Hill reported that Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, responded to the letter with this:
“The only thing worse for the Postal Service than DeJoy’s ‘Delivering for America’ plan is turning the service over to Elon Musk and DOGE so they can undermine it, privatize it, and then profit off Americans’ loss.
"This capitulation will have catastrophic consequences for all Americans – especially those in rural and hard to reach areas – who rely on the Postal Service every day to deliver mail, medications, ballots, and more.”