Louis DeJoy, an American businessman and major Republican Party donor, is the 75th U.S. postmaster general. Appointed in May 2020, he is the first postmaster general since 1992 without prior USPS experience and the first to come directly from the board of a private competitor. Before his appointment, DeJoy founded and led New Breed Logistics, a company that still holds contracts with the USPS, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. His tenure has been marked by controversy, particularly surrounding his political affiliations and the changes he implemented within the postal service.
1956: Birth of Louis DeJoy
Louis DeJoy was born in 1956.
1983: CEO of New Breed Logistics
DeJoy became CEO of New Breed Logistics in 1983.
1992: First Postmaster General without USPS Experience
In 1992, Louis DeJoy became the first postmaster general since 1992 without any previous experience in the USPS.
1992: Beginning of Noncompetitive Contracts
New Breed Logistics began receiving noncompetitive contracts from the USPS starting in 1992.
1999: Reports to Congress on New Breed Contracts
In 1999, two reports submitted to Congress questioned the use of funds paid to New Breed Logistics.
2000: Response to Audit Findings
In 2000, DeJoy and the USPS responded to the audit findings, disputing some of the conclusions and highlighting potential cost savings achieved through the noncompetitive contracts.
2000: Beginning of Alleged Straw Donor Scheme
The alleged straw donor scheme at New Breed Logistics is reported to have taken place between 2000 and 2014.
2001: USPS Audit of New Breed Logistics
A 2001 audit by the USPS inspector general revealed that New Breed Logistics, under DeJoy's leadership, had received over $300 million in noncompetitive contracts, potentially costing taxpayers $53 million.
2003: Retirement of Inspector General Kelly Corcoran
USPS Inspector General Kelly Corcoran retired in 2003 following a federal investigation, hampering further investigation into the New Breed contracts.
2004: Supporting George W. Bush's Campaign
DeJoy supported President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.
2005: DeJoy and Wos Purchase Greensboro Mansion
In 2005, Louis DeJoy and Aldona Wos purchased a large mansion in Greensboro, North Carolina, which has since hosted several political fundraising events.
2005: DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation Established
Louis DeJoy and his wife, Aldona Wos, founded the Louis DeJoy and Aldona Wos Family Foundation in 2005. The foundation has supported academic scholarships, including the DeJoy-Wos Odyssey Scholars Endowment at Elon University.
2008: Supporting Rudy Giuliani's Campaign
DeJoy co-chaired Rudy Giuliani's North Carolina fundraising campaign in 2008.
2014: End of Alleged Straw Donor Scheme
The alleged straw donor scheme at New Breed Logistics reportedly ended in 2014 when the company was sold.
2014: DeJoy Donates to Duke University
In 2014, Louis DeJoy donated $747,000 to Duke University, which funded the construction of Blue Devil Tower and the DeJoy Family Club at the football stadium. His son was accepted to Duke and joined the tennis team that same year.
2014: End of Tenure at New Breed Logistics
DeJoy's time as CEO of New Breed Logistics ended in 2014.
2016: Donating to Jeb Bush's Campaign
DeJoy donated to Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign.
2016: DeJoy's Lack of Knowledge about Postal Service Details
During congressional testimony, DeJoy admitted to being unaware of basic postal service details, such as the cost of mailing a postcard or the number of Americans who voted by mail in the 2016 elections.
April 2017: RNC Deputy Finance Chairman
In April 2017, DeJoy was named deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
2017: Wos Serves on White House Fellowships Commission
Starting in 2017 and continuing until 2021, Aldona Wos served as vice chair of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
2018: Departure from XPO Logistics Board
DeJoy left his position on the XPO Logistics board of directors in 2018.
May 2019: Local Finance Chairman for RNC
DeJoy became local finance chairman for the 2020 Republican National Convention in May 2019.
February 11, 2020: Aldona Wos Nominated as Ambassador to Canada
On February 11, 2020, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Aldona Wos, DeJoy's wife, as the Ambassador to Canada. However, the nomination stalled and ultimately expired.
May 6, 2020: DeJoy Appointed Postmaster General
On May 6, 2020, DeJoy was appointed Postmaster General and CEO of the USPS by the Board of Governors, despite concerns about conflicts of interest. He was the first postmaster general in two decades without prior USPS experience.
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.
June 2020: Implementation of Cost-Reduction Policies
In June 2020, DeJoy implemented cost-reduction policies at the USPS, including eliminating overtime and banning late or additional mail delivery trips. These changes led to criticism and concerns about potential impacts on the 2020 election.
June 16, 2020: DeJoy Implements Cost-Cutting Measures
Upon taking office on June 16, 2020, DeJoy implemented cost-cutting measures at USPS, including banning overtime and extra trips, leading to mail slowdowns and controversy.
August 7, 2020: DeJoy Reassigns Senior USPS Officials
On August 7, 2020, DeJoy reassigned or displaced 23 senior USPS officials, citing a need to revitalize a "broken business model", a move criticized as "deliberate sabotage".
August 13, 2020: DeJoy Acknowledges Mail Delays
On August 13, 2020, DeJoy confirmed reports of mail delays, attributing them to "unintended consequences" of his policy changes.
August 2020: Scrutiny Over DeJoy's Investments
In August 2020, DeJoy faced scrutiny for not divesting from his stake in XPO, a USPS subcontractor, and for his financial dealings with Amazon, despite USPS prioritizing Amazon package delivery. An investigation later found he met ethics requirements.
August 2020: DeJoy Halts Removal of Mailboxes and Equipment
In August 2020, DeJoy announced a halt to the removal of mailboxes and decommissioning of mail-sorting equipment until after the November election, following public outcry and concerns about mail-in voting.
August 18, 2020: DeJoy Suspends Policy Changes
Following congressional protests, DeJoy announced on August 18, 2020, that the USPS would suspend cost-cutting and operational changes until after the 2020 election.
September 2020: Allegations of Straw Donor Scheme
In September 2020, reports emerged alleging DeJoy's involvement in a straw donor scheme during his time at New Breed Logistics.
September 2020: Lawsuits and Settlements related to DeJoy's Policy Changes
In September 2020, several lawsuits were filed against USPS and DeJoy, including one related to misleading mailers in Colorado and another to reverse changes affecting mail services in Montana. USPS settled both lawsuits and agreed to reverse changes and increase transparency.
2020: 2020 Election and Mail-in Ballot Concerns
The 2020 election saw concerns about the timely delivery of mail-in ballots due to policy changes implemented by DeJoy.
2020: Investigation into DeJoy and Campaign Finance Allegations
In 2020, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform opened an investigation into allegations against DeJoy regarding campaign finance violations and the possibility that he lied to the committee.
2020: Involvement in 2020 RNC
DeJoy's involvement with the Republican National Convention.
2020: Supporting Donald Trump's Campaign
DeJoy donated to Donald Trump's 2020 campaign.
January 3, 2021: Wos's Ambassadorship Nomination Expires
Aldona Wos's nomination as Ambassador to Canada officially expired on January 3, 2021, with the swearing-in of the new Congress.
February 2021: DeJoy Remains Postmaster General Amid Criticism
In February 2021, despite criticism from Democratic lawmakers and the appointment of three new members to the USPS board of governors by President Biden, Louis DeJoy affirmed his intention to remain in his position as Postmaster General.
February 24, 2021: DeJoy Awards Oshkosh USPS Fleet Contract
On February 24, 2021, Louis DeJoy awarded a $6.5 billion contract to Oshkosh for modernizing the USPS fleet. This decision drew criticism due to Oshkosh's lack of expertise in electric vehicles, conflicting with President Biden's goal of an all-electric USPS fleet.
March 2021: Report on 2020 Election Mail Delivery
A March 2021 report found that the majority of mail-in ballots and registration materials in the 2020 election were delivered on time, despite earlier concerns about delays caused by DeJoy's policy changes.
March 2021: "Delivering for America" Plan Introduced
In March 2021, Louis DeJoy introduced a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America" aimed at stabilizing the USPS's finances.
March 2021: DeJoy Introduces "Delivering for America" Plan
In March 2021, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy unveiled a 10-year plan called "Delivering for America" aimed at addressing the USPS's $160 billion budget deficit and adapting to the rise of e-commerce and decline of traditional mail.
June 2021: FBI Investigates DeJoy
CNN reported in June 2021 that the FBI was investigating DeJoy related to campaign finance allegations.
December 2021: Federal Election Commission Dismisses Complaints Against DeJoy
In December 2021, the Federal Election Commission dismissed two criminal complaints against DeJoy related to campaign finance allegations.
December 2021: USPS and COVID-19 Test Kits
Following contact from the Biden Administration, Louis DeJoy leveraged his logistics expertise in December 2021 to facilitate the distribution of free at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans.
January 2022: USPS Begins COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution
Starting in January 2022, the USPS, under DeJoy's leadership, began distributing approximately 380 million at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans. This effort continued through May 2022.
February 2022: DeJoy Orders Gasoline-Powered Vehicles, Draws Criticism
In February 2022, DeJoy's order for $11.3 billion worth of mostly gasoline-powered USPS vehicles sparked criticism from Democrats and the EPA, citing environmental concerns and contradiction of President Biden's clean energy initiatives. DeJoy defended the decision due to the USPS's financial constraints and an ongoing environmental review.
March 2022: DeJoy Builds Bipartisan Support for Postal Service Reform Act
In March 2022, Louis DeJoy collaborated with Representatives Carolyn Maloney and James Comer to garner bipartisan support for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. His efforts focused on lobbying Republican lawmakers, presenting 10-year financial plans for the USPS.
April 6, 2022: Postal Service Reform Act Signed into Law
On April 6, 2022, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, supported by DeJoy, was signed into law by President Biden. This act addressed financial burdens on the USPS and mandated six-day-a-week mail delivery.
April 2022: Lawsuits Filed Against USPS Over Vehicle Electrification Plan
In April 2022, following the passage of the Postal Service Reform Act, 16 states, the District of Columbia, and four environmental groups sued the USPS over the environmental impact of its slow vehicle electrification plan.
May 2022: USPS Concludes COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution
By May 2022, the USPS concluded its efforts to help distribute roughly 380 million at-home COVID-19 test kits to the public.
June 2022: DeJoy Defends Centralized Mail Processing Plan
In June 2022, DeJoy argued that his plan to centralize mail processing would reduce the cost of electric vehicle infrastructure, despite the Postal Service Office of Inspector General stating that 95% of delivery routes were suitable for electric vehicles.
December 2022: DeJoy Announces Updated Electric Vehicle Purchase Plan
In December 2022, DeJoy announced a revised plan for USPS vehicle purchases through 2028, including 60,000 custom-made vehicles from Oshkosh (75% electric) and 21,000 EVs from other manufacturers. The USPS anticipates 100% electric purchases after 2026.
2022: Delivery Vehicle Purchase Decision
DeJoy's 2022 decision to purchase mostly gasoline-powered delivery vehicles drew criticism and lawsuits. After receiving additional funding, he revised the plan to include a larger percentage of electric vehicles.
2022: Postal Service Reform Act
In 2022, Congress passed the Postal Service Reform Act, which included provisions relieving the USPS of the requirement to pre-pay retiree health care costs, a key aspect of DeJoy's plan.
February 2023: USPS Announces Electric Vehicle and Charging Station Contract
In February 2023, the USPS announced a contract to purchase 9,450 electric vehicles from Ford and 14,000 charging stations, as part of its updated electric vehicle purchase plan.
2023: FBI Investigation Closed
As of 2023, the FBI investigation into DeJoy, related to campaign finance allegations, was closed with no charges filed.
2023: Criticism of DeJoy's Plans and the Postmaster General Reform Act
In 2023, several members of Congress criticized DeJoy's plans for their impact on mail delivery. Senator Jon Ossoff introduced the Postmaster General Reform Act, proposing Senate confirmation for Postmasters General. Georgia experienced a significant drop in on-time mail delivery but saw a partial recovery.
2024: DeJoy Faces Criticism for Regional Hub Implementation
In 2024, Louis DeJoy faced criticism for his implementation of larger regional hubs, a move projected to slow mail delivery for rural customers while potentially improving speed for those near the hubs.
2028: Target for Electric Vehicle Transition
By 2028, the plan is to have 83% electric vehicles in the USPS fleet, transitioning to 100% electric thereafter.