Joco Today

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. questioned United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Inspector General Tammy Hull during a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing on oversight and concerns with the United States Postal Service and the unreliability of mail services in the Kansas City Area.

During the hearing, Senator Marshall highlighted the cooperation between the U.S. Postal Service and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation in seizing fentanyl pills, stating, "I’m proud to report that your cooperation, the U.S. Postal Service’s cooperation with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and their canines, they’ve been able to capture 66,000 fentanyl pills."

The discussion also touched upon specific issues in the Kansas City Metro Area, with Senator Marshall expressing concerns about late mail delivery. Inspector General Hall attributed some of the delays to staffing challenges, stating, "a lot of the problems were related to staffing and an inability to retain staff in the delivery units primarily."

Senator Marshall raised questions about the increasing number of postal employees despite a decrease in mail volume, prompting Inspector General Hall to acknowledge the disconnect and variability in challenges faced by different locations.

Postmaster General DeJoy addressed operational challenges, including the need to adapt to a changing landscape with a focus on package delivery. He mentioned efforts to address staffing issues, such as the restructuring of roles like rural carrier associates.

In response to concerns about leadership and execution, Postmaster General DeJoy emphasized the ongoing organizational changes and efforts to improve service delivery. He highlighted the progress made in enhancing operational efficiency and adapting to new demands, stating, "I’m optimistic about the changes... it will make the Postal Service better."