Ranking Member Mfume’s Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Politicization of the U.S. Postal Service
Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2025)—Below is Rep. Kweisi Mfume’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at today’s Subcommittee on Government Operations hearing on President Trump’s efforts to undermine the independence of the Postal Service and the failure of Trump-appointed Former Postmaster General’s “Delivering for America Plan.”
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Opening Statement
Ranking Member Kweisi Mfume
Subcommittee on Government Operations
“The Route Forward for the U.S. Postal Service: A View from Stakeholders”
June 24, 2025
Thank you, Chairman Sessions, for calling a hearing on this important topic. I appreciate your interest in bringing us together for a thoughtful conversation about how the Postal Service can chart a better path forward under new leadership.
The Postal Service has an immense duty dating back to its creation—it powers communities and businesses, it keeps Americans healthy, it reinforces democracy, and it bridges geographical, economic, and cultural divides. Importantly, its universal service obligation ensures equitable access to prompt, reliable and efficient mail services—whether you live in a rural Maryland county or my constituents in the City of Baltimore and Baltimore County.
With Mr. David Steiner starting his tenure next month as the 76th Postmaster General, this is our first hearing on the Postal Service since the departure of former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. I hope Mr. Steiner heeds our calls to protect the service that millions of Americans rely on to send and receive critical items—from financial statements and mail-in ballots to life-saving medicines and personal letters.
In doing so, he must defend against any threats to the Service’s independence and ensure the Postal Service remains a public good—which will not be easy under this Administration. Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned its independence and wrongly suggested privatization or merging it with the Commerce Department, despite the Postal Service being a self-supporting, independent agency.
To be clear: unilateral restructuring efforts would not only be illegal, but could jeopardize the delivery of critical items, especially in rural communities and hard-to-reach areas where the Postal Service serves as a lifeline.
Let us be reminded that our nation’s first Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin, advocated for the security and privacy of the mail—not privatization. A commitment to security and privacy that our former Postmaster General upheld after refusing to allow DOGE officials, that have no experience with the Postal Service, broad access to the Postal Service’s data systems.
I urge the incoming Postmaster General to continue blocking any efforts to compromise the Postal Service’s data in order to maintain the historical status as one of the most trusted American institutions. Because for American families and businesses to continue to trust the USPS with their precious mail, they require certain assurances.
Americans deserve a true universal service—with reliable and efficient delivery times, affordable pricing, and low risk of theft.
Sadly, letter carriers are being robbed at gunpoint or chased by criminals with bats and no concern for the life or safety of these patriotic men and women. These criminals are desperately trying to obtain arrow keys, which are master keys, to steal mail in bulk—from low- and high-income communities alike.
The former Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, proposed a seven rate hikes of postage that would mark a 41.8percent increase in the price of First-Class Mail Forever stamps since 2021—all while the Postal Service continues to serve the American public well below its 95% on time delivery standard.
That’s asking Americans to pay higher prices for worse service. Slower delivery times and concerning rates of mail theft and fraud do nothing to attract and retain the Postal Service’s customer base.
The Postal Service must be efficient, reliable, and stable to ensure its long-term survival. Now that we’re more than four years into the Delivering for America plan, it’s clear that the incoming Postmaster General, the Board of Governors, and Congress must be brave enough to protect this vital institution without compromising good service.
In the past, I supported the Inflation Reduction Act’s $3 billion in funds to replenish and modernize its vehicle fleet and invest in electric infrastructure.
Yet, instead of building on this progress to deploy safer and current vehicles, Senate Republicans are supporting a $1 billion rescission in these funds, costing the Postal Service a total of $1.5 billion—despite the American people already paying for a modern fleet replacement.
The rescission would not only be environmentally irresponsible, but also immensely wasteful.
Let us also recognize the incredible work the postal workforce continues to do for the American people.
The Postal Service’s workforce delivered ballots during the last election cycle reliably and efficiently, and employees weathered the storm of high volume during the holiday season.
The positive relationship between the Postal Service and Inspector General, Tammy Hull, has been crucial in identifying and resolving areas of waste and improving efficiency and identifying cost savings for the Postal Service.
There have also been notable efforts to renovate facilities in dire need of repair, expansion, and relocation.
Collectively, I think we can all agree that there must be a better way to address the frustrations of our constituents, of fellow Members, and of critical partners, and to build back Americans’ trust in the Postal Service.
As we partner to remedy those frustrations, let’s also make clear that the Postal Service is not for sale, not to be sidelined, and not be weakened.
It is a pillar of American life, and we owe it to the American people to protect and improve it.
I look forward to this discussion on how we can all work together to put this essential institution on firmer ground.
I yield back.
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