While the board now has a Democratic majority, the two existing Democrats on the board have shown no sign of being willing to oust DeJoy-and chairman Ron Bloom has explicitly expressed support for his leadership. Democratic lawmakers have heavily pushed for DeJoy to be fired as a result, which only the board of governors has the power to compel.

вЂњGet used to me,вЂќ the postmaster general told lawmakers at a February hearing. DeJoy has been committed to imposing stringent cost-cutting measures at USPS like his 10-year plan even despite widespread criticism from Democrats, and has had no intention of resigning amid the controversy over his leadership. The price increases are the latest controversial decision at USPS under the leadership of DeJoy, a former GOP fundraiser and Trump ally whoвЂ™s become a frequent Democratic target after imposing changes last summer that resulted in widespread mail delays. вЂњI believe any rate adjustments must carefully take into consideration how it could affect the USPS customer base in the near and long-term, and nothing should be done that puts the USPS at a competitive disadvantage.вЂќ Key Background Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told Government Executive before the price increases were announced. вЂњThe USPS is facing many challenges, and drastically increasing rates on customers will only exacerbate its financial problems,вЂќ Rep. USPSвЂ™ price increases have already been widely maligned by Democratic lawmakers, as well as mailers and businesses who fear theyвЂ™ll be crippled by the impact of the new prices or be forced to seek alternatives to the USPS. That legislation is moving forward in the Democratic-controlled House and is expected to clear the Senate, after it was introduced with enough Republican co-sponsors to likely give the bill the 60 votes necessary for it to pass. Congress is also poised to give the agency a shot in the arm through new postal reform legislation that would help to improve the agencyвЂ™s finances, including by getting rid of a much-criticized mandate to pre-fund workersвЂ™ pensions. Mail volume is up 11% over estimates-with marketing mail and packages doing particularly well-and the agency is on the way to being well below its prediction it would lose $10 billion this year (it's so far incurred only $485 million in losses, per an April PRC filing analyzed by the Post). The USPS price increases are designed to help improve the agencyвЂ™s finances, but the Post notes some experts believe that the stamp hike may not actually be necessary. That could potentially have an effect on DeJoyвЂ™s plan and the price increases: New board member Anton Hajjar, who was confirmed Friday, said during his Senate confirmation hearing he was вЂњconcernedвЂќ about the potential price increases, and the newly confirmed members told lawmakers they would seek more input about the plan to address some of the criticism. Postal Service has also now gained three new board of governors members who were appointed by President Joe Biden, meaning the board now has a majority of members who are either Democrats or Biden appointees (new board member Amber McReynolds is an Independent) for the first time. Mass mail senders are already challenging price increases that would affect their businesses, filing a lawsuit against USPS in December after the PRC cleared the way for major price hikes.

Usps firstclass stamp