Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Gives Himself An ‘A’ Grade, Despite Massive Service Delays

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy spoke to the House Appropriations subcommittee on Thursday, saying he rates himself an “A” for his performance as lead of the United States Postal Service despite acknowledging “unacceptable” performance during the 2020 holiday season.

The subcommittee asked DeJoy to grade his performance and he said, “I don’t give grades, I just work,” then adding, “I’m not going to give myself a grade.”

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin) wouldn’t let DeJoy go on without answering the question. Clearly bothered, the Postmaster General said, “I would give myself an ‘A’ for bringing strategy and the planning and effort to here.”

“And as I did in my last testimony in Congress as the leader of the organization, I take responsibility for how we have delivered during this season,” DeJoy said. “And I apologize to the American public.”

DeJoy has been consistently slammed by the House and Senate over his handling of the United States Postal Service since his appointment in 2020. The postal service has suffered serious delays, banning overtime, ordering the removal of mail sorting machines and several mailboxes, and banning extra, or late trips to deliver high-priority mail.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Michigan) asked DeJoy to be more forthcoming about the UPSP’s future plans. “I am going to use all the power I have to require you to stop doing press releases on massive changes and to at least give the United States Congress the courtesy of knowing your plan,” said Lawrence, who served in the USPS for more than 30 years.

DeJoy said Lawrence is “well-known and respected within the Postal Service for [her] career and position today. But honestly, the Postal Service of today and the condition we are in is not the Postal Service of 2008 when you retired. We are in dire, dire financial crisis.”

“I am not naïve,” fired back Lawrence whose Congressional position includes actively monitoring the USPS. “So please don’t imply that I’m ignorant. I don’t want to be in this position again where we’re going tit-for-tat, and you seem annoyed and arrogant about answering the questions. We must work together because the Postal Service is bigger than you and I.”

“Yes there are times where I leave these sessions, and I’m a little embarrassed about my behavior. But I would also offer – I’ve been accused of many, many, many things every time I come in front of the Congress. And I am a human being, and I am trying to do the right thing. And I apologize to you if I have offended you in some way,” Dejoy said.