The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is facing increased scrutiny from a congressional investigation led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. The probe comes after a recent committee hearing in which Postmaster General David Steiner failed to answer questions about thousands of pieces of dumped mail discovered in St. Louis in April.
Hawley's investigation seeks internal records on dumped mail, potential criminal wrongdoing, and millions in executive bonuses. The senator has expressed outrage over Steiner's handling of the situation, saying it was "unbelievable" that he was unaware of the highly publicized mail dumping incident.
The investigation will focus on internal USPS communications regarding the St. Louis mail dumping and the exact date Steiner was first informed. Hawley is also seeking information on whether any postal employees have been referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal prosecution under federal statutes regarding the theft, delay, or destruction of mail.
The senator is taking aim at the millions in "non-salary compensation" paid to USPS executives over the last decade. He is seeking a complete, itemized statement of all compensation paid to Steiner since his appointment, along with "scorecards" used to justify the bonuses.
A recent audit of the St. Louis distribution center revealed the "worst case of failed on-time delivery" the inspector general had seen in field operations reviews. Another audit in Kansas City found 100,000 delayed pieces of mail over just three days.
