The head of the U.S. Postal Service said he was suspending delay-causing policy changes following an outcry against the measures amid fears they could affect the November presidential election.
The Postmaster-General, Louis DeJoy, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Washington.
“There are some longstanding operational initiatives — efforts that predate my arrival at the Postal Service — that have been raised as areas of concern as the nation prepares to hold an election in the midst of a devastating pandemic,” DeJoy said.
“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded.”
Post office hours will not change, mail processing equipment and collection boxes will not be moved, no mail processing facilities will be closed, and overtime will not be eliminated, DeJoy said.
Democrats and other critics had accused him of slowing mail delivery to support U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to hamper the expansion of mail-in voting as he trails his Democratic rival Joe Biden in the polls.
