The post workers’ union fired a message of warning to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) this week after news broke that America’s Postmaster General was quitting.

Louis DeJoy announced his “intention to retire” on Monday with immediate effect. He had reportedly told USPS governors last month that he was planning his retirement, but said he informed them on Monday “that today will be my last day in this role.”

The agency, which has been struggling financially and facing calls for privatization amid scrutiny from President Donald Trump‘s administration, is now seeking a new leader.

News of the DeJoy’s departure was met with a warning for USPS by Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). He urged the agency to ensure the next boss is determined to fight off privatization threats from “a White House intent on breaking up and selling off [ …] the vital public services” provided.

Louis DeJoy, who stepped down this week as U.S. Postmaster General, delivers a speech at the Postal Service Headquarters on December 20, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Louis DeJoy, who stepped down this week as U.S. Postmaster General, delivers a speech at the Postal Service Headquarters on December 20, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Why It Matters

DeJoy’s retirement comes amid a tumultuous time for the USPS. The service posted a $9.5 billion loss in the fiscal year ending September 2024 and received a backlash last July when it raised prices for the sixth time since 2020.

DeJoy had just announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs and slash billions from the USPS budget in collaboration with Elon Musk‘s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to a letter sent to Congress earlier this month.

Musk himself has previously said the agency should be privatized, while Trump has also reportedly floated the idea of taking control of the USPS.

What To Know

DeJoy had led the USPS for almost 5 years and served as the country’s 75th Postmaster General.

He said the embattled agency had worked to tackle the problems, but admitted there was still a long way to go.

“While our management team and the men and women of the Postal Service have established the path toward financial sustainability and high operating performance—and we have instituted enormous beneficial change to what had been an adrift and moribund organization—much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory,” he said.

The outgoing boss said he had “been working closely with the Deputy Postmaster General [Doug Tulino] to prepare for this transition.” He will take the baton until a permanent successor is found. The governors “have hired a search firm in support of those efforts, which are well underway,” he added.

The USPS released its own statement about the search for DeJoy’s replacement on Monday. The agency revealed it had retained global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder to lead the executive hunt for the person who will become the 76th Postmaster General.

The statement explained: “As established by federal law, the selection of the Postmaster General rests with the Presidentially appointed and Senate confirmed members of the Board, who oversee the Postal Service as an independent establishment of the executive branch.

“In conducting this search, the Governors are mindful that the size and complexity of the Postal Service requires a careful, deliberative process that will enable us to select a leader who can drive innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen the Postal Service’s role as a trusted part of American life and the nation’s critical infrastructure.”

What People Are Saying

Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the American Postal Workers Union (APSU), told CNN that the USPS must beware of: “a White House intent on breaking up and selling off the public United States Postal Service.” He added: “I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, this attack on the USPS is part of the ongoing coup by oligarchs against the vital public services APWU members and other public servants provide to the country. Privatized postal services will lead to higher postage prices, and a lower quality of service to the public.”

The outgoing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy laid out his plans to leave in a statement on the USPS website, saying: “It is with great pride that I pass the baton to Deputy Postmaster General, Doug Tulino, until the Governors name my permanent successor [ …] I shall cheer on America’s 76th Postmaster General and the 640,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service who I have called my colleagues and friends for close to five years. It has been one of the pleasures of my life and a crowning achievement of my career to have been associated with this cherished institution, the United States Postal Service.”

USPS Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds said: “Louis DeJoy has steadfastly served the nation and the Postal Service over the past five years. The Governors greatly appreciate his enduring leadership and his tireless efforts to modernize the Postal Service and reverse decades of neglect. Louis is a fighter, and he has fought hard for the women and men of the Postal Service and to ensure that the American people have reliable and affordable service for years to come. I commend Postmaster General DeJoy for inspiring the Postal Service with strategic direction, a competitive spirit, and a culture of achievement that comes from the successful implementation of large-scale change.”

What Happens Next

USPS, in conjunction with leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, continues their search for the next Postmaster General. No timeline has been provided for the process, but the USPS said it will share “updates as appropriate.”