Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Louis DeJoy

How Louis DeJoy built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Louis DeJoy is an American businessman who served as the 75th U.S. Postmaster General from May 2020 to March 2025. Prior to this role, he founded New Breed Logistics and was a major Republican Party donor and fundraiser for Donald Trump. His appointment was notable as he was the first Postmaster General since 1992 without prior USPS experience. He was also the first to come directly from a competitor to the USPS. Controversy arose due to potential conflicts of interest stemming from his companies holding active service contracts with the USPS during his tenure.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1983: CEO of New Breed Logistics

In 1983, Louis DeJoy became CEO of New Breed Logistics based in High Point, North Carolina.

1992: First Postmaster General since 1992 without USPS experience

In 1992, Louis DeJoy was the first postmaster general since 1992 without any previous experience in the USPS and the first postmaster general in U.S. history to come directly from the board of a privately owned competitor to the public–private partnership of the USPS entity.

2005: DeJoy and his wife found the Louis DeJoy and Aldona Wos Family Foundation

In 2005, DeJoy and his wife founded the Louis DeJoy and Aldona Wos Family Foundation, through which they have provided donations to academic scholarships, including establishing the DeJoy-Wos Odyssey Scholars Endowment at Elon University. DeJoy is on the board of the Fund for American Studies.

2008: Increase in Package Volume Due to E-commerce

In March 2021, DeJoy issued a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America" to stabilize the finances of the Postal Service. The plan takes into account the long-term trend of increasing package volume due to e-commerce (more than doubling since 2008).

2014: DeJoy donates to Duke University

In 2014, DeJoy donated $747,000 to Duke University, funding Blue Devil Tower and the DeJoy Family Club at the football stadium. That year, his son was accepted to the school and joined the school's tennis team.

2014: Departure as CEO of New Breed Logistics

In 2014, Louis DeJoy stepped down as CEO of New Breed Logistics.

2017: Aldona Wos served as the vice chair of the 45th President's Commission on White House Fellowships

From 2017 to 2021 Aldona Wos served as the vice chair of the 45th President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

2018: Departure from XPO Logistics Board

In 2018, Louis DeJoy departed from his strategic role on XPO Logistics' board of directors.

May 6, 2020: Appointment as Postmaster General Announced

On May 6, 2020, the bipartisan USPS Board of Governors announced Louis DeJoy's appointment as postmaster general and CEO, despite concerns about conflicts of interest. He was the first postmaster general in two decades without prior experience in the United States Postal Service.

May 2020: Appointment as Postmaster General

In May 2020, Louis DeJoy was appointed as the 75th U.S. Postmaster General by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

June 16, 2020: Implementation of Cost-Cutting Measures

Upon assuming office on June 16, 2020, Louis DeJoy began implementing cost-cutting measures such as banning overtime and extra trips to deliver mail, which resulted in slowing mail service. He did not communicate the reasons for such changes within the organization.

August 7, 2020: Reassignment of USPS Officials

On August 7, 2020, Louis DeJoy announced he had reassigned or displaced 23 senior USPS officials, including the two top executives overseeing day-to-day operations, in an effort to improve the Postal Service's "broken business model".

August 18, 2020: Suspension of cost-cutting

On August 18, 2020, Louis DeJoy announced that the Postal Service would suspend cost-cutting and other operational changes until after the 2020 election.

February 2021: Biden nominates people to USPS board amid criticism of DeJoy

In February 2021, amid criticism about the USPS under DeJoy, Biden nominated three people to fill four vacancies on the USPS board of governors. That same month, DeJoy stated that he did not intend to leave the position.

March 2021: DeJoy issues "Delivering for America" 10-year plan

In March 2021, DeJoy issued a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America" to stabilize the finances of the Postal Service. The plan aims to bridge a $160 billion budget gap for the decade.

March 2021: Release of "Delivering for America" Plan

In March 2021, Louis DeJoy issued a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America" to stabilize the finances of the Postal Service by slowing first class mail delivery, optimizing transportation networks, cutting post office hours, and raising prices.

December 2021: Biden administration contacts Postal Service about mailing free COVID-19 test kits

In December 2021, the Biden administration contacted the Postal Service about the possibility of mailing free COVID-19 test kits to Americans.

January 2022: USPS begins delivering COVID-19 test kits

From January 2022 through May 2022, DeJoy helped the USPS deliver approximately 380 million home COVID-19 test kits.

March 2022: DeJoy works to build bipartisan support for Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

In March 2022, DeJoy worked with Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Rep. James Comer to build bipartisan support for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which lifted financial burdens placed on the Postal Service and required the agency to continue delivering mail six days per week.

April 6, 2022: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 signed into law

On April 6, 2022, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, for which DeJoy had built bipartisan support, was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

May 2022: USPS completes delivery of COVID-19 test kits

From January 2022 through May 2022, DeJoy helped the USPS deliver approximately 380 million home COVID-19 test kits.

June 2022: DeJoy cites mail processing centralization to reduce electric vehicle infrastructure costs

In June 2022, DeJoy said his plan to centralize mail processing would reduce the cost of electric vehicle infrastructure; the Postal Service Office of Inspector General had said that 95% of delivery routes were suitable for electrification.

December 2022: DeJoy announces changes in plans for vehicle purchases

In December 2022, DeJoy announced yet another change in plans for purchases through 2028: an order of 60,000 custom-made vehicles from Oshkosh (75% electric) plus 21,000 EVs from other manufacturers.

2022: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

In 2022, Congress relieved the USPS of the requirement to pre-pay retiree health care costs with the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which DeJoy urged for.

February 2023: Contract announced for electric vehicle purchases

In February 2023, the first order was announced: a contract to purchase 9,450 EVs manufactured by Ford and 14,000 electric vehicle charging stations.

February 18, 2025: DeJoy announces intention to step down as Postmaster General

On February 18, 2025, DeJoy announced his intention to step down from the role of Postmaster General, asking the Postal Service Board of Governors to begin a search for his successor.

March 12, 2025: DeJoy enters into agreement with DOGE representatives.

On March 12, 2025, DeJoy entered into an agreement with "DOGE representatives to assist [the USPS] in identifying and achieving further efficiencies".

March 24, 2025: Resignation as Postmaster General

On March 24, 2025, Louis DeJoy resigned from his position as the 75th U.S. Postmaster General.

2026: USPS Expects 100% of Vehicle Purchases to be Electric

In December 2022, DeJoy announced yet another change in plans for purchases through 2028: an order of 60,000 custom-made vehicles from Oshkosh (75% electric) plus 21,000 EVs from other manufacturers. After 2026, the agency expects 100% of its purchases to be electric.

2028: Transition to Electric Vehicles

DeJoy plans to order 83% electric vehicles through 2028 and 100% electric thereafter after additional federal funding was provided by the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 and Inflation Reduction Act.

2028: New target for 100% electric vehicle purchases.

In December 2022, DeJoy announced yet another change in plans for purchases through 2028: an order of 60,000 custom-made vehicles from Oshkosh (75% electric) plus 21,000 EVs from other manufacturers.