- Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about his major changes to the agency next Monday, Aug. 24.
- DeJoy, a major donor to Republicans and committees supporting President Trump, has implemented a slew of drastic measures, which reportedly include major cuts in overtime.
- The hearing marks the first time DeJoy will answer directly to Democratic lawmakers who have raised concerns that his could impact the 2020 presidential election between Trump and Joe Biden.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about his overhaul of the agency, the panel announced Monday amid a growing pressure campaign to reverse his changes in the run-up to the 2020 election.
Oversight Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., said in a press release she was "pleased" to report that DeJoy will appear before her committee next Monday, Aug. 24.
"The American people want their mail, medicines, and mail-in ballots delivered in a timely way, and they certainly do not want drastic changes and delays in the midst of a global pandemic just months before the election," Maloney said in the release.
Robert Duncan, the chairman of the Post Office's Board of Governors, which selected DeJoy in May, has also agreed to testify on the same day, according to the release from the Oversight Committee.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET and will be livestreamed, according to the press release. A spokesman for USPS did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.
Since starting his role in mid-June, DeJoy, a major donor to Republicans and committees supporting President Donald Trump, has implemented a slew of significant cost-cutting measures, which reportedly include major cuts in overtime and crackdowns on making late trips to deliver mail. The changes have led to reports of widespread mail delays.
The hearing marks the first time DeJoy will answer directly to Democratic lawmakers who have raised concerns that his actions at USPS are undermining the government agency and could impact thepresidential election between Trump and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
More ballots than ever before are expected to be cast by mail as Americans continue to socially distance to try to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Earlier Monday, seven leading Democratic senators sent a letter to the six-member USPS board – all of whom were appointed by Trump – urging them to reverse DeJoy's changes.
"Should he not cooperate with these efforts, you have the authority, under the Postal Reorganization Act, 'to remove the Postmaster General,' with 'a favorable vote of an absolute majority of the Governors in office,'" said the letter, which was signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Sunday she is calling the House back from summer recess in order to vote on Maloney's bill to block DeJoy's policies until after the Covid-19 pandemic has ended.
This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
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