USPS Postmaster General DeJoy steps down
Louis DeJoy faced ongoing pressure from the Trump administration as they continue to seek power over the postal system


What happened
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stepped down Monday, ending a tumultuous five years as head of the U.S. Postal Service that began with the Covid-19 pandemic and mail-ballot-heavy 2020 election and "ended amid pressure from President Donald Trump's administration to assert political control over the postal system," The Washington Post said.
Who said what
DeJoy announced his departure in February but did not set a date. His resignation Monday preempted Trump's plans to "force him out of the role faster than planned," The Wall Street Journal said. "Recent tension" over DeJoy's refusal to give Elon Musk's DOGE team "broad access to agency systems" and power over policy changes "contributed to the White House's antipathy," the Post said. He recently said he would seek DOGE's help cutting 10,000 workers and billions of dollars.
The departure of DeJoy, a Republican donor and former logistics company owner, leaves the USPS with an "uncertain future," The Associated Press said. Trump and Musk have "floated the idea of privatizing mail service," and the president more recently proposed folding the USPS into the Commerce Department.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
"Any change to the Postal Service's structure would require congressional approval," the Post said. DeJoy said Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino would take the reins until a permanent successor was appointed.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Democrats: The 2028 race has begun
Feature Democratic primaries have already kicked off in South Carolina
-
The Pentagon's missing missiles
Feature The U.S. military is low on weapons. Can it restock before a major conflict breaks out?
-
Rescissions: Trump's push to control federal spending
Feature The GOP passed a bill to reduce funding for PBS, NPR and other public media stations
-
The Pentagon's missing missiles
Feature The U.S. military is low on weapons. Can it restock before a major conflict breaks out?
-
Rescissions: Trump's push to control federal spending
Feature The GOP passed a bill to reduce funding for PBS, NPR and other public media stations
-
Knives come out for Pam Bondi
IN THE SPOTLIGHT She wasn't Trump's first pick to lead the Justice Department. After months of scandals and setbacks, is the attorney general's MAGA shelf life winding down?
-
ICE builds detention camps and ramps up arrests
Feature The Trump administration's deportation efforts continue
-
Can Gaza aid drops work?
Today's Big Question UN's Palestinian refugee agency calls plan a 'distraction and smokescreen' as pressure mounts on Israel to agree ceasefire and fully open land crossings
-
Will Trump actually prosecute Obama for 'treason'?
Today's Big Question Or is this just a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal?
-
'Spending is what card issuers are hoping you will do'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets