President Biden Announces Postal Board of Governor Nominees

President Joe Biden nominated two individuals to serve on the USPS Board of Governors on July 25. Val Butler Demings, former Congresswoman (D-FL) Orlando Police Chief. Butler would succeed Anton Hajjar. Biden also nominated William Zollars, a Republican, to another term. Three nominations, including the previously nominated Marty Walsh, are now pending. We are hearing that the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) will act in September, with confirmation by the full Senate likely after the election. Also, HSGAC held a hearing on July 25 on nominations that included Postal Regulatory Commissioners, the Honorable Anne Fisher and the Honorable Ashley Poling, who each have been nominated for a second term.

Postal issues dominated the questions at the hearing. There were many questions about what the Commission is doing, and can do, to exercise better regulatory oversight over USPS and its service problems. Several Senators expressed preliminary interest in looking at strengthening the Commission; the first we’ve seen of that publicly, as we have been laying the groundwork for legislation. Additionally, increased postal rates were mentioned as a concern.