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Louis DeJoy (born c. 1957) is an American businessman and the current and 75th U.S. Postmaster General and new CEO. He was appointed in May 2020 by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Prior to this he was a Republican Party fundraiser.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, DeJoy earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Stetson University in Central Florida. After graduating, he became a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in the state of Florida.

Career

Business

DeJoy was CEO of High Point, North Carolina-based New Breed Logistics from 1983 to 2014, and retired after his company was acquired by the Connecticut-based freight transporter XPO Logistics for a reported $615 million. Following that acquisition, he served as CEO of XPO's supply chain business in North America until his retirement the next year and was appointed to a strategic role on XPO Logistics' board of directors where he served until 2018.

At the time of his naming as Postmaster General and CEO, DeJoy was president of LDJ Global Strategies, a Greensboro, North Carolina-based boutique firm with interests in real estate, private equity, consulting and project management.

Republican Party

DeJoy has served as a major donor and fundraiser for a number of high-profile Republican Party politicians. He helped fund President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, co-chaired Rudolph Giuliani's North Carolina fundraising campaign in 2008, and donated a combined $27,700 to Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential campaign. He donated $1.2 million each to Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, and to the Republican Party since 2016.

In April 2017, DeJoy was named one of three deputy finance chairmen of the Republican National Committee, along with Trump's then-lawyer Michael Cohen and the venture capitalist Elliott Broidy. In May 2019, DeJoy became local finance chairman for the 2020 Republican National Convention, then-planned for Charlotte, North Carolina.

In September 2020 The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that according to former employees at DeJoy's logistics company New Breed, DeJoy participated in a straw donor scheme, reimbursing employees for making political donations. Employees, particularly managers, were expected to contribute to fundraisers for Republican candidates and organizations; they would then be reimbursed in full through the company's system of bonuses. Campaign finance records show that employees at New Breed gave substantial sums to Republican candidates and negligible amounts to Democrats. Between 2000 and 2014, when New Breed was sold, 124 employees gave a combined total over $1 million. Many of these employees had not donated before they worked at the company and have not done so since leaving. Pressuring employees to make campaign donations, reimbursements for such donations, and use of corporate money to support individual politicians are in violation of both North Carolina and federal election laws, although some statutes of limitations may have expired. At an August congressional hearing DeJoy emphatically denied having engaged in such practices, calling the question "outrageous".

Postmaster General

On May 6, 2020, the USPS Board of Governors, all selected by Trump and confirmed by the Senate, announced DeJoy's appointment as Postmaster General and CEO, despite concerns about conflicts of interest. That day, the National Association of Letter Carriers president Frederic Rolando congratulated him on his appointment but warned of politicization of the USPS, writing: "Keeping politics out of the Postal Service and maintaining its independence is central to its success."

DeJoy's appointment was not only controversial because of his strong Republican connections, but also because of his financial position. While he divested shares in UPS and Amazon before taking on his role, he did not divest his $30–$75 million equity stake in XPO, a subcontractor for USPS. Under his tenure as Postmaster General, USPS has increased its business with XPO. Additionally, when DeJoy sold his Amazon shares, he purchased stock options in the company that represent between 20 to 100% of his prior holdings, and, under him, USPS prioritizes Amazon packages.

DeJoy is the first postmaster in two decades without prior experience in the United States Postal Service. Upon assuming office on June 16, 2020, he began taking measures such as banning overtime and extra trips to deliver mail, to reduce costs. He did not communicate the reasons for such changes within the organization, and such measures also resulted in slowing of the mail service. Congressional Democrats called for the measures to be rolled back. More than 600 high-speed mail sorting machines were scheduled to be dismantled and removed from postal facilities, raising concerns that mailed ballots for the November 3 election might not reach election offices on time. Mail collection boxes were removed from the streets in many cities; after photos of boxes being removed were spread on social media, a postal service spokesman said they were being moved to higher traffic areas but that the removals would stop until after the election.

On August 7, 2020, DeJoy announced he had reassigned or displaced 23 senior USPS officials, including the two top executives overseeing day-to-day operations. He said he was trying to breathe new life into a "broken business model". Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, who chairs the House committee that oversees the USPS, said the reorganization was "deliberate sabotage".

In a letter to postal workers on August 13, 2020, DeJoy confirmed reports of delays in mail delivery, and called them “unintended consequences” of changes that eventually would improve service. At the same time that he was taking measures that postal workers and union officials said were slowing down mail delivery, President Trump told a TV interviewer that he himself was blocking funds for the postal service in order to hinder mail-in voting.

After congressional protests, the USPS inspector general began a review of DeJoy's policy changes and whether he was complying with federal ethics rules. On August 18, 2020, DeJoy announced that the Postal Service would suspend cost-cutting and other operational changes until after the 2020 election. He said that equipment that had already been removed would not be restored.

Personal life

DeJoy is married to Aldona Wos, a Polish-American physician and former Ambassador to Estonia during the George W. Bush Administration. Since 2017, she has served as the vice chair of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. President Trump announced his intent to nominate her as Ambassador to Canada on February 11, 2020. On February 25, her nomination was sent to the Senate, where it is currently pending before its Committee on Foreign Relations.

The couple have twins and maintain two homes: one in the Kalorama neighborhood in Washington, D.C., and the other, from prior to his government appointment, a mansion next to the Greensboro Country Golf Course in the in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Other board work and donations

DeJoy donated $747,000 to Duke University in 2014, funding Blue Devil Tower and the DeJoy Family Club at the football stadium. The same year, his son was accepted to the school and joined the school's tennis team as a walk-on.

As of August 12, 2020, DeJoy serves on the Elon University board of trustees.

See also

• Logistics
• Postal voting in the United States
• United States Postal Service
• 2020 United States Postal Service crisis

References

1. "Lawmakers from Both Parties Want Postal Service to Undo Changes That Are Slowing Mail". NBC News. Associated Press. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
2. Naylor, Brian (May 7, 2020). "New Postmaster General Is Top GOP Fundraiser". NPR.org. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
3. Alexander, Peter; Clark, Dartunorro; Talbot, Haley (May 7, 2020). "Top Republican donor tapped to lead struggling U.S. Postal Service". NBC News. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
4. Dunn, Mackenzie (May 14, 2016). "From Family Business to million dollar corporation, entrepreneur Louis DeJoy shares his success story". Elon News Network. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
5. "About The Louis DeJoy and Aldona Z. Wos Family Foundation". Louis DeJoy Aldona Wos Family foundation. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
6. Arcieri, Katie (December 15, 2015). "Triad CEO retires from firm that bought his company, joins board of directors". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
7. Finnegan, Daniel (February 7, 2020). "County approves sale of downtown building to Louis DeJoy's company". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
8. Izaguirre, Anthony; Slodysko, Brian (August 20, 2020). "Embattled postal leader is Trump donor with deep GOP ties". Associated Press. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
9. ^ Armus, Teo (August 17, 2020). "As the House demands an interview with Postal Service chief Louis DeJoy, protesters picket his homes". The Washington Post.
10. Desiderio, Andrew; Levine, Marianne; Lippman, Daniel (August 21, 2020). "DeJoy defends proposed changes amid Postal Service furor". Politico. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
11. ^ Estes, Adam Clark (August 7, 2020). "What's wrong with the mail". Vox. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
12. Pierce, Charles P. (August 10, 2020). "Destroying the Postal Service Is the Most Republican Thing Trump Has Ever Done". Esquire. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
13. Bernstein, Andrea; Marritz, Ilya (May 26, 2017). "The President, His Business Partner, and the Fundraiser". WNYC. Retrieved August 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
14. Finnegan, Daniel (May 7, 2020). "Lead fundraiser for Charlotte RNC named postmaster general. He starts in June". Triad Business Journal. Retrieved August 13, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
15. ^ "DeJoy Pressured Workers to Donate to G.O.P. Candidates, Former Employees Say". The New York Times. September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
16. Davis, Aaron (September 6, 2020). "Louis DeJoy's rise as GOP fundraiser was powered by contributions from company workers who were later reimbursed, former employees say". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
17. Phillips, Amber (September 7, 2020). "The legal lines Louis DeJoy's alleged campaign contribution reimbursements may have crossed". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
18. "Board of governors". usps.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
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20. Sherman, Donald (July 19, 2020). "Trump's new postmaster general could corrupt a key institution ahead of Election Day". NBC News. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
21. "Statement of NALC President Fredric Rolando on the Appointment of Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General". National Association of Letter Carriers.
22. Newsom, John (May 7, 2020). "Greensboro's Louis DeJoy named nation's new postmaster general". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved July 27, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
23. Earle, Travis (July 24, 2020). "Trump's New Postmaster General Could Destroy The Postal Service". HillReporter.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
24. Broadwater, Luke; Edmondson, Catie (September 2, 2020). "Postal Service Has Paid DeJoy's Former Company $286 Million Since 2013". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
25. CNN, Marshall Cohen (August 12, 2020). "Financial disclosures reveal postmaster general's business entanglements and likely conflicts of interest, experts say". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
26. CNN, Marshall Cohen and Kristen Holmes (August 14, 2020). "Exclusive: Postal service inspector general reviewing DeJoy's policy changes and potential ethics conflicts". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
27. "Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail". AP News. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
28. Daly, Matthew (July 15, 2020). "Mail delays likely as new postal boss pushes cost-cutting". Associated Press. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
29. Johnson, Jake (July 22, 2020). "Maine Letter Carriers Allege USPS Leadership 'Willfully Delaying' Mail to Sabotage Postal Service From Within". Common Dreams. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
30. Katz, Eric (July 20, 2020). "Looking to Cut Costs, New USPS Leader Takes Aim at Overtime and Late Trips". Government Executive. Retrieved July 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
31. ^ Bogage, Jacob (August 7, 2020). "Postal Service overhauls leadership as Democrats press for investigation of mail delays". The Washington Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
32. Gordon, Aaron (August 13, 2020). "The Post Office Is Deactivating Mail Sorting Machines Ahead of the Election". Vice. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
33. Behrmann, Savannah (August 13, 2020). "What's going on with the post office? Here's what we know". USA Today. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
34. Bogage, Jacob (August 14, 2020). "Postal Service will stop removing mailboxes". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
35. Axelrod, Tal (August 7, 2020). "New postmaster general overhauls USPS leadership amid probe into mail delays". The Hill. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
36. Wirebeck, Taft (August 7, 2020). "'Wholly off-base': Greensboro's Louis DeJoy, new postmaster general, says he's not beholden to Trump". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved August 8, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
37. Gardner, Amy; Dawsey, Josh; Kane, Paul (August 13, 2020). "Trump opposes election aid for states and Postal Service bailout, threatening Nov. 3 vote". The Washington Post.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
38. "Trump admits he's blocking postal cash to stop mail-in votes". AP NEWS. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
39. CNN, Marshall Cohen and Kristen Holmes (August 14, 2020). "Exclusive: Postal service inspector general reviewing DeJoy's policy changes and potential ethics conflicts". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
40. Cochrane, Emily; Rappeport, Alan; Fuchs, Hailey (August 18, 2020). "Postal Service Suspends Changes After Outcry Over Delivery Slowdown". NY Times. Retrieved August 18, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
41. Pelosi, Nancy (August 19, 2020). "Earlier today, I spoke with Postmaster General DeJoy regarding his alleged pause in operational changes. During our conversation, he admitted he has no intention of replacing the sorting machines, blue mailboxes and other infrastructure that have been removed". Twitter. Retrieved August 20, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
42. Pflum, Mary (August 28, 2020). "Despite DeJoy's vows to halt changes, serious problems persist, postal workers say". NBC News. "Some stations have so much mail backed up, it's three times more than the volume you would see at Christmas" a Chicago postal worker said.
43. Norcross, Jack (May 7, 2020). "Elon University trustee Louis DeJoy selected to lead U.S. Postal Service". Elon University. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
44. "Trump names Aldona Wos as his new ambassador to Canada". CBC. Retrieved September 2, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
45. "Eight Nominations Sent to the Senate", The White House, February 25, 2020
46. Williams, Matt (June 7, 2004). "Bush taps city woman as Estonia ambassador". Greensboro News & Record.
47. "Things I never thought I'd see, volume 1,303: Protests outside of the Postmaster General's home this morning". CNN on Twitter. August 15, 2020.
48. Scott, Leon (August 24, 2020). "A Go-Go fueled protest against voter suppression". WUSA9.
49. McLaughlin, Nancy (August 16, 2020). "Hundreds protest outside of Louis DeJoy's Greensboro home. They accuse the postmaster general of trying to sabotage the 2020 election". Greensboro News and Record.
50. Mogensen, Jackie Flynn (August 16, 2020). "Protesters Just Took Their Fight to Save the Postal Service to the Steps of the Postmaster General's Mansion". Mother Jones.
51. "Louis DeJoy: Entrepreneurial Life Story in a Democracy". uncp.campuslabs.com. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
52. "Postal chief and Trump donor Louis DeJoy has long leveraged connections, dollars". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
53. "Trustees". Elon University. Retrieved August 12, 2020.

v t e United States postmasters general
Confederal	Franklin Bache Hazard
Federal	Osgood Pickering Habersham G. Granger Meigs McLean
Cabinet level Post Office Department	Barry Kendall Niles F. Granger Wickliffe Johnson Collamer Hall Hubbard Campbell A. Brown Holt King Blair Dennison Randall Creswell Marshall Jewell Tyner Key Maynard James Howe Gresham Hatton Vilas Dickinson Wanamaker Bissell Wilson Gary Smith Payne Wynne Cortelyou Meyer Hitchcock Burleson Hays Work New W. Brown Farley Walker Hannegan Donaldson Summerfield Day Gronouski O'Brien Watson Blount
U.S. Postal Service	Blount Klassen Bailar Bolger Carlin Casey Tisch Frank Runyon Henderson Potter Donahoe Brennan DeJoy

• 1950s births
• Living people
• Stetson University alumni
• Trump administration personnel
• United States Postmasters General
• People from Greensboro, North Carolina
• North Carolina Republicans
• People from Brooklyn
• Trump administration controversies