Congress To Postmaster General: Provide A Turnaround Plan By July

As a result of bipartisan demands at a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing today, the Postmaster General will provide a turnaround business plan by early July.

Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) began his questioning of Postmaster General Megan Brennan by noting he had been an advocate for the Postal Service who had spent political capital on its behalf. The Congressman said he was “very upset at a lack of follow-up from you” in reference to a January 4 meeting he had with the Postmaster General at which he said he was promised a plan in 10 days.

“You said you would get that to me in 10 days…You don’t even have a business plan today!” exclaimed Congressman Meadows.

Meadows’ Democratic colleagues, including Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), who chairs the Subcommittee on Government Operations, were also quick to emphasize that the Postmaster General she should provide a plan soon.

By the end of the hearing, Chairman Cummings indicated that he expected the plan on or about July 7 and that another Committee hearing would likely be held based on what is in the plan.

The demand for a business plan is eminently reasonable. In fact, it is not something that Congress should even have to ask for, as large organizations regularly and voluntarily prepare such plans.

It is also distressing that the Postal Service will not be providing such a plan until approximately six months after the Presidential Task Force Report about the Postal Service. The Lexington Institute called for the Postal Service to develop a business plan in a December 2017 issue brief.

The full hearing can be viewed here and the exchange between Congressman Meadows and the Postmaster General begins at the 1 hour, 22 minute mark.

About the Author: Paul Steidler is a Senior Fellow with the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank based in Arlington, Virginia.