White House denies Trump is moving to take over USPS despite report

[Craig]

THE WHITE HOUSE IS DENYING REPORTS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS CONSIDERING A MOVE TO PUT THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, MARKING A POTENTIAL FIRST STEP TOWARD PRIVATIZATION.

THE WASHINGTON POST FIRST REPORTED THURSDAY … THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO FIRE MEMBERS OF THE INDEPENDENT GOVERNING BOARD THAT OVERSEES THE U-S-P-S.

THE POST, CITING NUMEROUS ANONYMOUS SOURCES, SAYS TRUMP INTENDS TO PLACE THE AGENCY UNDER DIRECT CONTROL OF THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AND SECRETARY HOWARD LUTNICK.

THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS NOT COMMENTED, BUT A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL TOLD THE POST THE ALLEGED EXECUTIVE ORDER IS *NOT* IN THE WORKS. 

TRUMP MOST RECENTLY SPOKE ABOUT PRIVITIZING THE POSTAL SERVICE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER.

Well there is talk about the Postal Service being taken private, you do know that. Not the worst idea I’ve ever heard. Really isn’t. You know it’s a lot different today, between Amazon, UPS, and FedEx and all the things you didn’t have.  But there is talk about that. It’s an idea that a lot of people have liked for a long time, we’re looking at it.”

THE PRESIDENT FOR THE AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION RELEASED A STATEMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A U-S-P-S TAKEOVER SAYING …

“IF THIS REPORTING IS TRUE, IT WOULD BE AN OUTRAGEOUS, UNLAWFUL ATTACK ON A STORIED NATIONAL TREASURE, ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION AND CREATED BY CONGRESS TO SERVE EVERY AMERICAN HOME AND BUSINESS EQUALLY.”

IT’S UNLIKELY TRUMP WOULD BE ABLE TO PRIVATIZE THE U-S-P-S WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

UNDER THE POSTAL REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1970, CONGRESS SPLIT THE AGENCY INTO A FREESTANDING ORGANIZATION, PURPOSEFULLY SEPARATING IT FROM INFLUENCE OF POLITICS WITH FEDERAL LAW STATING MAIL MUST BE DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS A BASIC AND FUNDAMENTAL SERVICE.

ACCORDING TO THE POST, THE BOARD OVERSEEING U-S-P-S HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING THURSDAY, LAYING OUT STEPS WITH A LAWYER TO SUE THE WHITE HOUSE IF TRUMP WERE TO CARRY OUT PRIVATIZATION PLANS.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, POSTMASTER GENERAL LOUIS DEJOY ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION SAYING IN A LETTER HE WAS SUBJECTED TO “IRRATIONAL SCRUTINY” WHEN HIS IDEAS TO IMPROVE U-S-P-S GOT PUSHBACK.

THE U-S-P-S SAYS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, IT DEVELOPED AND STARTED IMPLEMENTING A 10-YEAR PLAN TO MODERNIZE THE SERVICE AND GAIN FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY.

BUT DEJOY’S TIME THERE WAS ALSO FILLED WITH DELIVERY DELAYS AND FINANCIAL LOSSES DRAWING CRITICISM FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THE AGENCY REPORTED A NET LOSS OF NEARLY 10 BILLION DOLLARS IN FISCAL YEAR 20-24, COMPARED TO A NET LOSS OF 6-POINT-5 BILLION FOR THE PRIOR YEAR. 

U-S-P-S HAS MORE THAN 600-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.

FOR SAN, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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