WASHINGTON, D.C., (May 16, 2024) – Today, U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) released the following statement in response to U.S. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy’s letter stating he would delay moving mail processing facilities until 2025.
“I am glad Postmaster General DeJoy is listening to constituents’ and lawmakers’ concerns about these moves. I hope he takes this extra time to consider the best moves for East Tennessee and other districts affected by these moves.”
On May 9, 2024 U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stated in a letter to Sen. Gary Peters that he will pause plans to move mail processing facilities across the country, which includes the one in Knoxville, until at least January 1, 2025.
Rep. Burchett serves on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, one of the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the postal service.
BACKGROUND ON REP. BURCHETT’S POSTAL EFFORTS:
Rep. Burchett has been closely following issues with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and advocating for the needs of East Tennesseans since he came to Congress, but especially in recent months.
On December 1, 2023, Rep. Burchett sent a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy regarding a meeting between USPS employees and East Tennesseans to discuss the potential move, which Rep. Burchett found unsatisfactory. In this letter, Rep. Burchett also requested a meeting with Postmaster General DeJoy to discuss these issues.
DeJoy did not provide a written response to this letter.
On December 8, 2023, Rep. Burchett joined Reps. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) and Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03) in a letter to Postmaster General DeJoy asking for answers on the USPS Mail Processing Facility Review studies and final plans for the Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Johnson City mail handling centers.
On January 9, 2024, Postmaster General DeJoy sent a response to the December 8 letter.
Rep. Burchett later followed up on his December 1, 2023 request to meet with Postmaster General DeJoy, which was finally scheduled as a phonecall on March 26, 2024. In this call, Postmaster General DeJoy shared details on how he is working to make USPS more efficient and assured Rep. Burchett of the importance of the Knoxville mail processing facility.
On April 2, 2024 Rep. Burchett released a statement on Postmaster General DeJoy’s announcement on changes to mail operations at the Knoxville Processing Facility following a Mail Processing Facility Review, where Rep. Burchett committed to continue advocating for the U.S. Postal Service to do what’s right by East Tennessee and the people who rely on its services.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-burchett-statement-usps-delaying-mail-moving-processing-facilities