Postmaster general admits he doesn't know what it costs to mail a postcard

What does it cost to mail a postcard? Don't ask the guy in charge of the United States Postal Service.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before Congress on Monday to face questions from lawmakers about controversial changes at USPS. But when it was Rep. Katie Porter's (D-Calif.) turn for questions, she decided to open with a bit of a pop quiz about Postal Service prices.

For one, she wanted to know, what does a first class postage stamp cost? Fifty-five cents, he answered. But how much does it cost to mail a postcard? With that question, DeJoy was stumped.

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"I don't know," he said.

When a surprised Porter shot back, "you don't know the cost to mail a postcard," DeJoy laughed and confirmed, "I don't." As Porter continued to ask some pricing questions, DeJoy admitted, "I know very little about postage stamps." He also said he doesn't know the starting rate for USPS priority mail, and he couldn't estimate how many people voted by mail in the last presidential election.

"I'm glad you know the price of a stamp," Porter said, "but I'm concerned about your understanding of this agency."

But to be fair to DeJoy, The Atlantic's David A. Graham quipped, "he isn't the postmaster specific." Brendan Morrow