USPS Postmaster General pauses plans to consolidate facilities following letter by US Senators

WASHINGTON (WRIC) — The United States Postal Service Postmaster General agreed to pause the movement of processing operations as part of a plan to consolidate facilities, following a letter from United States Senators expressing concerns about delayed mail.

In a May 9 letter, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy agreed to pause the movement of processing operations associated with the Mail Processing Facility Reviews, which are reviews taking place at nearly 60 out of 427 processing plants to consider moving originating volume to fewer regional plants, according to DeJoy.

DeJoy mentions that a list of sites in consideration to undergo this change is attached to the letter, however, the documents obtained by 8News did not include the list.

The agreement comes in response to a May 8 letter signed by several United States Senators which called on DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to pause planned changes to the postal service’s processing and delivery network under the “Delivering for America” plan.

The Senators called for the pause to be in place until DeJoy and the Board request and receive a comprehensive Advisory Opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission to fully study the potential impacts of the proposed changes.

According to the Senators, the postal service is moving forward with plans to consolidate and alter its facilities across the country, making irrevocable changes to its processing and delivery network which links all communities.

The Senators said the plan included moving mail processing further away from local communities by transferring operations out of local facilities and into more distant hubs.

The plan also includes “local transportation optimization,” an initiative the Senators say cuts the number of truck trips and mail collections at postal service facilities, causing mail to sit overnight in local offices.

According to the Senators, the postal service implemented the change without notifying the public, causing critical delays for mail that requires overnight delivery.

Previously, 8News reported the findings of a March 28 audit of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center located in the Sandston area of Henrico, which showed the postal service faced “serious challenges” when consolidating operations at this facility, and that it did not take steps to address “known weaknesses” before consolidation.

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine were joined by Congressman Rob Wittman and Rep. Jennifer McClellan met with DeJoy in April following the audit. They called the meeting “productive” and said it was “encouraging to hear the postmaster accept responsibility for the problems, share data about recent improvement, and pledge to make the Richmond Distribution Center a top-notch performer in necessary postal reforms.”

In his letter on May 9, DeJoy said in all cases on the list where the postal service is moving a small subset of its operations, it is also making modernizing investments to improve employee amenities and the automation equipment that helps employees do their jobs.

In some cases, DeJoy said the movement of these operations is freeing up space for a Sorting and Delivery Center to be co-located at the facility. The reviews will also achieve necessary cost savings, most of which would be achieved from reduced transportation, according to DeJoy.

DeJoy said the Mail Processing Facility Reviews study is a transparent process where the postal service has undertaken analysis, notified the public and interested stakeholders, as well as provided the opportunity for public input — which he said were all considered before the decisions were made.

With only one or two exceptions, DeJoy said the Mail Processing Facility Reviews have not yet been implemented and the future plans to do so have not yet commenced.

“The career workforce will not see layoffs, new equipment will be installed, the facilities will not close, deferred maintenance will be performed, and working conditions will be substantially improved,” DeJoy said in the letter.

In response to the Senators’ concern about cases where originating volume, known as turnaround mail, is moved to be processed out of state or at a geographically more distant location, DeJoy said in all cases there is a distinct minority of volume, usually less than 15%.

According to DeJoy, these actions enable the postal service to more efficiently handle most of the mail that is not turnaround mail, while still ensuring that a timely delivery for turnaround mail is within established service standards.

In response to these concerns, DeJoy has agreed to pause the movement of processing operations associated with the Mail Processing Facility Reviews until after Jan. 1, 2025.

“Even then, we will not advance these efforts without advising you of our plans to do so, and then only at a moderated pace of implementation,” DeJoy said in the letter.

DeJoy said he will also continue to consider whether the postal service should seek an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission as a discretionary matter on its part, consistent with the process provided by the 39 U.S.C. section 3661, taking into account the relevant legal requirements.

However, DeJoy said while the pause is in effect, more than $430 million estimated in positive investments in the listed facilities will also not commence, just as the annual cost savings, an estimated $133 to $177 million, associated with the mail moves will not be achieved while in pause.

In the meantime, DeJoy said the postal service will continue to work to restore service in impacted areas.