Calls for Postmaster General’s Resignation Amid Mail Voting Controversy

As the midterm elections approach, changes to mail voting rules remain at the forefront of political debates. The Trump administration seeks to change these rules, despite ongoing litigation concerning the president’s authority to implement them. Federal courts have stopped key parts of President Trump’s executive order from taking effect pending legal proceedings. Now, the administration has turned to the Supreme Court, asking for these rulings to be overturned so the order can be enforced immediately.

If successful, this could alter how millions of Americans vote by mail, right before Election Day. The United States Postal Service (USPS), led by Postmaster General David Steiner, finds itself at the center of this debate. Criticism has arisen over Steiner’s refusal to address his involvement in this contested effort.

The Postal Service’s independence exists so that partisan pressure does not dictate the delivery of mail and ballots.

Steiner has faced accusations of allowing the USPS to become part of an effort seen as rewriting mail-in voting rules. He has not communicated how the USPS will comply with court orders or assured citizens their ballots will be free from political bias. Congress, too, faces challenges in oversight due to Steiner’s lack of responses to their inquiries.

The USPS’s independence is crucial to prevent any political party from gaining an advantage through mail services. Trust in the delivery of ballots should not rely on directives from the White House. Steiner’s current actions fail to guarantee that independence. By becoming involved in a potentially unlawful election plan, Steiner has compromised the USPS’s role in voting.

The expected conduct of a public official in such a scenario is accountability, especially as litigation could impact how Americans vote. A postmaster general who does not address federal court orders undermines the trust required for the position. Steiner’s absence from the oversight process raises significant concerns about the USPS’s ability to comply with federal directives before the election. This alone is seen as grounds for his resignation or removal.

The USPS’s independence ensures democracy, preventing partisan directives in mail delivery. Steiner’s recent actions suggest this independence is not only compromised but abandoned. If Steiner refuses to answer Congress or comply with court rulings, his position is untenable. Americans deserve confidence in impartial ballot delivery, which Steiner has not assured.

Millions depend on mail for voting, including service members, seniors, and rural communities. They should not face uncertainty about voting rules days before an election due to an unfinished executive order or a postmaster general’s lack of accountability. For months, Steiner had time to show dedication to maintaining the USPS’s independence. Having failed, it’s urged that he step down or be removed, with the Board of Governors intervening if necessary.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, representing Illinois’s 8th District, is part of the Committee on Oversight And Government Reform.

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