Trump's postmaster-general pauses service cuts after mail-in ballots outcry

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - US Postmaster-General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday (Aug 18) suspended all mail service changes until after the November election, bowing to an outcry by Democrats that the moves appeared to be an attempt to boost President Donald Trump's re-election chances.

The reversal follows charges by Democrats and others that service cuts could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, the use of which is expected to skyrocket for the election as the coronavirus pandemic raises fears of crowds.

These critics have accused the Republican president of trying to hobble the Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting as he trails Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls ahead of the Nov 3 election.

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence claimed that an increase in mail-in ballots would lead to a surge in fraud, though mail-in voting has long been used in the United States.

Changes that threaten to slow mail delivery - and in some cases, already have - include reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips, and new mail sorting and delivery policies, enacted in an attempt to cut costs.

"I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said in a statement, adding that the changes are to "avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail."

The White House distanced itself from the controversy.

"No, I was not involved," Trump said when asked if he had any involvement in the decision not to go forward with the changes at this time. He spoke to reporters in Yuma, Arizona, where he was visiting a border barrier.

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Trump never directed postal operational changes that would slow mail deliveries.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeJoy's announcement inadequate and said she would push ahead with legislation later this week to aid the Postal Service.

"This pause only halts a limited number of the postmaster's changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the president" in the election, Pelosi said in a statement.

"The House will be moving ahead with our vote this Saturday," she said. The legislation is expected to contain provisions to prevent the post office from reducing service levels below what they were in January.

DeJoy, a major political donor and ally of Trump, assumed the job in June.

He has faced pressure from multiple tiers of government, with the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives planning a rare Saturday session to pass a bill blocking cuts, and several states preparing lawsuits to block the maneuvers.

Trump kept up his attack on mail voting on Tuesday, speculating that delayed results could mean that the Nov 3 election would need to be held a second time.

"It will end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome," Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

"They'll have to do it again, and nobody wants that."

One in four ballots in 2016 were cast by mail and Trump himself votes that way.

DeJoy also said that the Postal Service will not change retail hours at post offices, while mail collection boxes will remain where they are and no mail processing facilities will be closed.

The reversal followed a lengthy call by the postal board of governors on Monday night, two people briefed on the matter said.

Trump said last week he was against Democratic efforts to include funds for the Postal Service and election infrastructure in coronavirus relief legislation because he wanted to limit mail-in voting during the pandemic.

Earlier on Tuesday, states including Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York said they were planning legal moves to block the Postal Service changes.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro suggested he might welcome DeJoy's proposed actions.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Shapiro said. "Hopefully, the American people can breathe a sigh of relief. But I will not let my foot off the gas so long as the postal officials continue to violate the law."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that he had demanded that DeJoy provide a written document specifying the changes he is rescinding, along with "an explicit confirmation that all election mail will continue to be treated as First Class priority."

In a complaint filed in federal court, Washington and 13 other US states accused DeJoy of ignoring congressionally mandated procedures by imposing "transformative" changes at the Postal Service.

"Voting by mail is safe and promotes no partisan advantage,"the complaint said. "The states are entitled to a declaration that the 'transformative' changes are unlawful." Several congressional Republicans this week had dismissed Democrats' concerns as a political attack on Trump.

DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before the Republican-led Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, spokesmen for the committee and the Postal Service said. DeJoy also is scheduled to testify on Monday before the Democratic-led House Oversight and Reform Committee.