Hawley Presses USPS for Answers on Delivery Delays in St. Louis Region

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General Tammy Whitcomb Hull, urging an audit of all post offices and distribution centers in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis City as Missourians continue to experience consistent mail and delivery delays.

"Recently, a growing number of Missouri residents from the St. Louis area have contacted my office, citing insufficient mail delivery services. For some constituents, the result has been routine delivery delays, while others have not received deliveries at all," wrote Senator Hawley.

He continued, "One resident in the St. Louis area said she had not received her mail in more than three months, resulting in late bills and financial harm to her small business operations. Others have described losing access to their prescription medications and Social Security checks."

Earlier this month, Senator Hawley pressed Postmaster General and USPS CEO Louis DeJoy for an update on the ongoing postal delays in St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo. and questioned him on his plan to address the problems.

Read the full letter here or below.

April 29, 2024

The Honorable Tammy Whitcomb Hull
Inspector General
United States Postal Service
1735 N. Lynn Street
Arlington, Virginia, 22209-2020

Dear Inspector General Hull,

I write to express my concern about continued mail delays from the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the St. Louis area. To help address these ongoing problems, I urge you to audit all post offices and distribution centers in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis City.

Recently, a growing number of Missouri residents from the St. Louis area have contacted my office, citing insufficient mail delivery services. For some constituents, the result has been routine delivery delays, while others have not received deliveries at all. One resident in the St. Louis area said she had not received her mail in more than three months, resulting in late bills and financial harm to her small business operations. Others have described losing access to their prescription medications and Social Security checks.

It is critical that Missourians receive their mail in a timely manner. To assess the root causes of these delays and ensure they are appropriately addressed, I respectfully request that you investigate the service complaints from St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and the City of St. Louis, and conduct an audit of the offices in those localities.

Please reply to my office by May 13, 2024, to detail your plans and expected timeline to complete this audit of the St. Louis region's post offices.

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley
United States Senator