Former President Donald Trump’s postmaster general reportedly directly ordered cuts to overtime pay for USPS workers, contradicting his congressional testimony.
The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington obtained a memo purportedly showing that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy directed the cuts to overtime that sparked controversy last summer.
“Throughout the summer, USPS faced operational challenges due to postal workers taking the paid leave granted in the COVID Phase 2 bill. These operational challenges and service delays are separate from the recent plan put forth by the Postmaster General (PMG) to reduce overtime,” the memo read under a section heading called, “USPS Operational ‘Shift’ to Reduce Exorbitant Overtime.”
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A representative for DeJoy denied the contents of the memo in an email to the Washington Examiner.
“Postmaster General Louis DeJoy did not eliminate overtime and he did not reduce it,” he wrote. “In fact, overtime ratios for each month were higher than ratios in the previous year since he become Postmaster General. He has granted the organization the ability to use all avenues necessary, including overtime, to deliver mail and packages in a timely manner during this past extraordinary election and holiday season.”
The memo’s suggestion that the plan to reduce overtime was “put forth” by DeJoy appears to contradict his congressional testimony in August, in which he denied having directed a reduction to overtime.
“I did not direct the elimination or any cutback in overtime,“ DeJoy told the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Aug. 24.
DeJoy’s actions sparked controversy from Senate Democrats, who wrote a letter to the postmaster general last Wednesday accusing the Trump appointee of “concerning practices … including management rejecting most overtime requests.”
Republicans have defended DeJoy, with Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina accusing Democrats of pushing a “false narrative” that’s an “insult.” Rep. Mark Walker said DeJoy was “viciously attacked” by “false accusations” during the same Aug. 24 hearing.
