The US Postal Service is entering a new era – and a deeply uncertain one – following the abrupt resignation of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, whose controversial tenure ends at a time when the agency is facing mounting political pressure, budget woes, and speculation about impending privatization.
The announcement came Monday evening via an official USPS press release. In it, DeJoy said he was proud of having “revitalized a stagnating agency,” but conceded that “more difficult work remains” to secure long-term viability. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will serve as interim chief until the Board of Governors names a permanent replacement.
A Polarizing Legacy
DeJoy, a Trump-era appointee and longtime GOP donor, assumed the role in 2020 during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. His mission: stabilize an agency bleeding billions annually and modernize its operations. But his methods – including sweeping operational cuts, delivery slowdowns, and steep postage hikes – drew sharp criticism.
The cost-cutting strategy included the elimination of nearly 30,000 jobs since 2021, with plans for 10,000 more cuts through voluntary retirement this year. DeJoy also famously warned Americans to brace for “uncomfortable” postage hikes, raising First-Class stamp rates from $0.55 to $0.73 under his watch.
Trump’s Vision: A Postal Merger?
DeJoy’s exit comes just weeks after President Donald Trump hinted at reconfiguring the USPS structure entirely. Speaking at the swearing-in of Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trump floated the idea of giving Lutnick oversight authority over the Postal Service – a dramatic move that could signal the first step toward privatization.
“It’ll remain the Postal Service, but I think it’ll operate a lot better than it has been,” Trump said. “It’s time to think differently – maybe even a form of a merger.”
The remarks sent shockwaves through postal worker unions and transparency watchdogs, who view this as a potential attack on the independence of the 250-year-old public institution.
Elon Musk’s Involvement Sparks Debate
Further fanning speculation, DeJoy recently signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to examine the USPS’s retirement assets and workers’ comp program, both of which he criticized as “mismanaged.” Musk has previously called for privatizing USPS entirely, arguing it is a “government monopoly failing in real time.”
Union Pushback: “This Is an Ongoing Coup”
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), minced no words in his response:
“Privatized postal services will lead to higher postage prices and a lower quality of service,” Dimondstein warned. “This is part of an ongoing coup by oligarchs to dismantle essential public services.”
He urged the USPS Board of Governors to appoint a successor firmly opposed to privatization and committed to protecting the public mission of the service.
What’s Next for USPS?
DeJoy leaves behind a USPS mid-way through a 10-year “Delivering for America” plan, with no clear roadmap ahead. The agency currently employs around 635,000 workers and handles over 400 million mail pieces daily.
With no timeline for naming a new Postmaster General, the agency enters a leadership vacuum just weeks ahead of its busiest spring delivery period.
In a year already defined by mass administrative overhauls, evolving government oversight, and widespread civil service reshuffling under Trump’s second term, the future of America’s mail service is now under intense scrutiny – and the outcome could reshape how millions send, receive, and depend on mail.
