The Postmaster General refused, both in the hearing and in subsequent communications, to return the bonus. Senator Hawley then launched an investigation, demanding documents and communications from the USPS to uncover the truth behind these practices and hold those responsible accountable.

Senator Hawley wrote, “I received your letter dated June 25, 2026, and I am disappointed that your response to our exchange at a recent committee hearing was to shift blame rather than focus on solutions. You also failed to address the concerning issue of massive bonuses for Postmasters General and executives at the United States Postal Service (USPS). As a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has jurisdiction over USPS, and as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which has jurisdiction over postal crimes, my office is launching a new congressional investigation into systematic service failures in Missouri, possible criminal activity, and bonuses for executives at USPS.“

Senator Hawley continued by highlighting several instances where the USPS has failed to serve the people of Missouri effectively. The Senator cited examples such as the mountain of mail found in North St. Louis City in April 2026 and the several audits conducted by the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG), which showed that millions of pieces of mail were delayed at important service centers in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Senator Hawley concluded, “At the same time, you and your executive team are receiving payouts that make you some of the highest paid federal employees. Even a cursory look at public filings reveals millions in non-salary compensation provided to you and your predecessors over the past 10 years, with other senior leadership raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional compensation per year. At the same time, public reports suggest you have retained restructuring consultants from a top-dollar New York firm, no doubt scouring for costs to cut. Your bonus should be an easy place to start. You seem to operate under the misapprehension that you are entitled to some kind of special deference. In fact, it’s the people of Missouri that are entitled to something: you doing your job.”

Access Senator Hawley’s full request for productions and interrogatories here.

Read Senator Hawley’s full letter below.

Dear Postmaster General Steiner: 

I received your June 25, 2026 letter. I am disappointed that your response to our exchange at a recent committee hearing was to shift blame rather than actually provide answers. You also failed to address the concerning issue of massive bonuses that you and other executives at the United States Postal Service (USPS) have received. As a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, which has jurisdiction over USPS, and as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Crime, which has jurisdiction over postal crimes, my office is launching a new congressional investigation into systematic service failures in Missouri, possible criminal activity, and bonuses for executives at USPS. 

When I showed you the photograph of thousands of pieces of dumped mail discovered in North St. Louis on April 29, 2026, you testified: “This is the first time I’ve heard about it.” When I pressed you on the broader collapse of service in my state, you asked me, “what mail?” It is unbelievable to me that this episode—subject of major press coverage and apparent criminal activity affecting thousands of residents—did not reach your desk by the time of our Senate hearing, given that your offices fielded inquiries from congressional staff. 

This is just one example. Missouri has been saddled with poor service for years. When I asked the Inspector General last year to audit the St. Louis distribution center, she told me it was the worst case of failed on-time delivery they had seen in field operations reviews. Another recent audit for Kansas City found that there were nearly 100,000 delayed pieces of mail over a three-day inspection. Your current on-time delivery targets mean that you can miss nearly one piece of mail in ten and still grade yourself a success—and in 2024 and 2025 you were hitting even that low bar in Missouri only about 76 percent of the time. Despite your claims of recent improvements, my office continues to field a constant stream of constituent complaints about protracted delays and major service problems. This includes chronic delivery challenges in rural Missouri, which continues to suffer the downstream effects of the Regional Transportation Optimization (RTO) Plan, which I requested you fully terminate in my letter to you of August 5, 2025. 

At the same time, you and your executive team are receiving payouts that make you some of the highest paid federal employees. Even a cursory look at public filings reveals millions in non-salary compensation provided to you and your predecessors over the past 10 years, with other senior leadership raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional compensation per year. At the same time, public reports suggest you have retained restructuring consultants from a top-dollar New York firm, no doubt scouring for costs to cut. Your bonus should be an easy place to start. You seem to operate under the misapprehension that you are entitled to some kind of special deference. In fact, it’s the people of Missouri that are entitled to something: you doing your job.

So that Congress can consider remedial action, please provide the documents, communications, and written responses identified in Annex I below to my office by no later than July 15, 2026.

Sincerely,

Josh Hawley

United States Senator

Chairman

Subcommittee on Crime

“A functional and efficient Postal Service is essential for many South Dakotans,” said Johnson. “While I’m encouraged to see some improvements in service, progress for southeastern South Dakota is failing to meet the standard of service South Dakotans expect. I’m looking forward to ongoing discussions with the Postmaster General on how we can work together to provide a Postal Service that works for South Dakota.”

United States Postal Service data shows continued delivery delays for postal customers in the Sioux Falls metro area and southeastern South Dakota.

South Dakotans can submit feedback to the United States Post Office’s Office of the Inspector General here.

Click here to view the letter.

Background:

Johnson surveyed thousands of South Dakotans in December 2025 about their experiences with USPS. He heard hundreds of stories about the impacts of delayed delivery and package routing negatively impacting families and businesses.

Johnson hosted a roundtable event in Sioux Falls January 2026 to hear first-hand experiences with the Postal Service. Johnson was joined by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) who chairs the subcommittee which has oversight of the USPS.

Johnson then sent a letter to Steiner detailing the Postal Services’ shortcomings in service. Rep. Sessions joined Johnson for a tour of the Sioux Falls mail processing facility on April 2, 2026.

Johnson’s full letter to Steiner:

Postmaster General Steiner,

I am writing once again regarding the performance of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in South Dakota. Earlier this year, I shared concerns raised by thousands of South Dakotans, outlined persistent service challenges, and expressed my hope that by July 2026 we would be able to point to measurable improvements in service reliability, staffing, and delivery performance.

I appreciate the work USPS has undertaken to improve operations over the past year. The latest performance data shows meaningful progress across much of South Dakota, demonstrating that operational improvements are possible even in some of the nation’s most geographically challenging rural delivery areas. Those improvements deserve recognition, and I appreciate the efforts of USPS employees and leadership who have helped produce them.

However, South Dakotans in the Sioux Falls region still report delayed and missed deliveries, inconsistent service, staffing shortages, and disruptions affecting prescriptions, financial documents, newspapers, and small businesses. In a rural state like South Dakota, dependable mail service is not simply a convenience, it is essential infrastructure that families, businesses, and communities rely upon every day.

These concerns are reflected in USPS’s own performance data, attached to this letter. Using September 2025 – the closest available ZIP3 benchmark to the beginning of your tenure, as the point of comparison – USPS has achieved measurable improvements across nearly every South Dakota service region. ZIP3 regions 572 through 577 have all shown improvement across key inbound mail performance metrics. Those results are encouraging and demonstrate that meaningful progress is achievable.

However, the two service areas that encompass nearly half of South Dakota’s resident – ZIP3 regions 570 and 571 – have experienced measurable declines over the same period. Given the success achieved elsewhere in the state, understanding why these two regions remain outliers is particularly important.

I am encouraged by USPS’s decision to install a new PILS machine serving the 571 region. That investment reflects a recognition that additional operational capacity is needed, and I am hopeful it will produce the same measurable improvements that residents in other parts of South Dakota have already begun to experience.

At the same time, I recognize that no single investment is likely to resolve every operational challenge affecting service in the 570 and 571 regions. For that reason, I want to ensure the deployment of this new equipment is accompanied by whatever additional operational, staffing, or transportation improvements may be necessary to restore reliable service. My office stands ready to assist that effort wherever Congress can be helpful.

Accordingly, I respectfully request a written response addressing the following:

1. The primary operational factors contributing to declining performance in ZIP3 regions 570 and 571, including staffing levels, vacancy rates, transportation networks, mail processing operations, facility capacity, or any other relevant challenges;
2. The specific actions USPS is taking to improve service in these regions, including how the new PILS machine fits into the agency’s broader operational strategy and whether successful practices implemented elsewhere in South Dakota can be applied in these service areas;
3. The measurable performance goals and anticipated timeline for improvement in the affected regions, including how USPS intends to evaluate and communicate progress; and
4. Any legislative, regulatory, operational, or resource constraints that may be limiting USPS’s ability to improve service and where Congress may be able to provide assistance.

My objective is not simply to identify shortcomings, but to better understand how we can work together to improve mail service for the people of South Dakota. If there are barriers preventing USPS from delivering the level of service South Dakotans deserve, I want to understand what role Congress can play in addressing them.

The progress achieved across much of the state demonstrates that improvement is possible. I am hopeful the investments now being made in the Sioux Falls region will allow those same gains to extend to the communities that have yet to experience them. I look forward to working with you to ensure that every South Dakotan receives the reliable postal service they depend on.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

DUSTY JOHNSON

Member of Congress

USPS News Link – 7/16/26 – A new episode of “Mail with Mr. ZIP” — the animated series on YouTube that aims to increase awareness of the Postal Service among young audiences — spotlights the nation’s 250th birthday.

In this episode, Mr. ZIP and his friends time travel to July 4, 1776, where they witness Benjamin Franklin — a Founding Father and the nation’s first postmaster general — sign the Declaration of Independence.

Afterward, Franklin hands letters to Mr. ZIP to deliver to U.S. historical figures. Mr. ZIP discovers the letters are invitations to a party celebrating the nation’s independence.

Viewers are also introduced to the term “semiquincentennial.”

The “Mail with Mr. ZIP” channel has more than 85,000 subscribers.

Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.

USPS 7/15/26 – The Postal Service is offering customers a way to buy and sell goods by using USPS Smart Lockers.

Called USPS Local XChange, the service allows buyers and sellers who are local to each other to deliver and retrieve items purchased through an online marketplace without having to meet in person.

A seller can book the service through Click-N-Ship and take their item to a Post Office with USPS Smart Lockers. After the seller deposits the item in a locker, the system automatically emails a QR code to the buyer that will allow them to retrieve it.

The service costs $5.10 and the seller must package the item in a box or a poly bag that meets USPS mailing standards.

More information about USPS Local XChange can be found on usps.com.

On May 27, 2025, ANTHONY JOHNSON walked approximately one block from his residence in Rockford to the Post Office, where he reached for a firearm in his waistband and told the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register.  After stealing approximately $219, Johnson ran back to his residence, crossing private backyards on his way.

Johnson, 59, of Rockford, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of robbing money from the United States.  On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Johnson to six years and eight months in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to the U.S. Postal Service.

The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim.

“Robbing a Post Office with a gun is a violent offense that places innocent human lives in immediate, terrifying danger,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function, and its employees must be allowed to perform their duties for the American people safely and securely.  Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve threats, violence, and intimidation against federal officials. The federal law enforcement apparatus in Chicago will pursue, apprehend, and convict those who choose to compromise the safety of our public servants.”

“The safety of our postal employees and postal infrastructure is paramount,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Bucciarelli.  “Letter carriers, clerks, and other postal employees serve our communities, and violence against them affects us all. This conviction serves as a warning that targeting the U.S. Postal Service will result in federal law enforcement relentlessly pursuing those responsible until they are brought to justice. We thank the Rockford Police Department and the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and partnership in securing this conviction.”

Postal Service honors the limitless possibilities of beloved doll

AUSTIN, TX — The U.S. Postal Service honored the possibilities and hope of Mattel’s Inc.’s iconic Barbie® — played with, enjoyed and collected by countless fans of all ages — with a new series of 10 collectible stamps and introduced to some of the doll’s most loyal fans at the annual National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, TX, today.

“The original Barbie stamp has been one of our most memorable and beloved stamps, with appeal felt by Barbie fans young and old,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s director of stamp services. “As much as our customers loved that stamp, we wanted to feature a selection of the modern careers depicted across the decades during which Barbie has become the best-selling doll of all time.”

Created by Mattel Inc., a global play and family entertainment company, and introduced in 1959 as “The Original Teenage Fashion Model,” Barbie quickly evolved into much more, becoming a symbol of limitless possibilities for generations of children. With an ever-expanding resumé that now represents more than 250 careers and counting, Mattel’s introduction of Barbie was groundbreaking and came to represent a modern view of womanhood in the mid-20th century. The new stamps pay tribute to the world’s best-selling doll and its legacy of endless possibility, creativity and empowerment during the last 65-plus years.

Top Row:

In 1961, Barbie stepped into an early professional role as a registered nurse. The blond Barbie wears a white cotton nurse’s uniform with a graduate nurse’s cap, a blue cape and era-appropriate “cat-eye” glasses. Barbie became a surgeon in 1973. The Malibu Barbie on the stamp is equipped with a stethoscope and is garbed in light blue scrubs and mask, with blond hair peeking out from underneath a surgical cap.

Two decades after Barbie first went to space, this 1986 astronaut suited up in a very ’80s broad-shouldered spacesuit in hot pink and silver lamé, with a bubble-helmet worn over dark brunette hair.

Firefighter Barbie arrived on the scene in 1995. The doll’s turnout gear consists of yellow helmet, jacket, pants and a white “Barbie Fire Rescue 1” T-shirt. A red ribbon secures a blond ponytail.

In the ’90s, dinosaurs loomed large in every way. This brunette paleontologist Barbie, introduced in 1996, is equipped for exploration with bucket hat, field bag, belted khaki shorts, dinosaur shirt, and pink earrings and kerchief.

Bottom Row:

Signing “I love you,” this sign language teacher Barbie has blond hair and wears a light blue sweater, plaid skirt and a beaded necklace. American Sign Language teaching materials were included in the playset, introduced in 2000.

For the 2018 Barbie Career of the Year playset, Barbie is a robotics engineer with goggles, a laptop computer and a tiny toy robot. With dark brown hair in a trendy updo, Barbie wears a faded jean jacket, black jeans and a T-shirt with a circuitry pattern.

As a judge, the 2019 Barbie Career of the Year doll has a gavel to call the courtroom to order and make important decisions. Wearing traditional black judicial robes and a lacy jabot, this dark-haired Barbie stands for justice.

Ready to score as a soccer player, Barbie is kitted up in green-trimmed white shorts and a flashy, red-striped, green jersey emblazoned with a team patch and the number 16. Released in 2022, this brown-haired doll — hair pulled back into a sporty ponytail — wears a red headband and carries a black and white soccer ball.

As part of the 2025 Barbie Career of the Year Women in Music set, the musical artist Barbie rocks a sky-blue guitar and a bright pink-sparkle dress and shawl, with high-volume dark curls highlighted in pink and purple.

The pane and stamps were designed by Ethel Kessler, a USPS art director, in collaboration with Mattel, using photography from Mattel. Near the top left of the selvage, the issuance title “Barbie” appears in white in the brand’s famous logo script, against a field of “Barbie Pink.” Underneath the title, a paragraph of explanatory text is printed in white. To the right of the text are the two rows of five stamps each, which are in a vertical design format, noticeably taller than standard commemorative stamps. At the bottom of the selvage is a narrow stripe of pale pink atop a wider blue stripe, which contains the phrase “You can be anything” printed in white.

The Barbie stamps are issued as Forever stamps and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. News of the Barbie stamps is being shared with the hashtag #BarbieStamps.

About Mattel

Mattel is a leading global play and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. Mattel engages consumers and fans through the franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, Uno, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, Polly Pocket, as well as other popular Mattel properties owned or licensed in partnership with global entertainment companies. Mattel offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Mattel products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and e-commerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. For more information, visit mattel.com.?

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.

# # #

7/10/26 – The Postal Service is providing employees with badge cards that provide an easy-to-follow guide through the steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

The cards are informational only and designed to be a reference tool during medical emergencies for employees who are trained in CPR. They are the same size as employee ID badges and can fit inside an identification card holder.

Managers and supervisors should ensure each employee receives a card. They can be ordered through eBuyPlus; the PSN is 7530-20-000-0174.

In a situation where CPR is needed, employees should call 911 immediately.

You may have heard or seen recent news reports about the handling of Election Mail, going
back to March 31, when a presidential executive order was issued. In the order, the Postal
Service was directed to initiate a proposed rulemaking regarding federal election ballot mail.
The Postal Service published a proposed rule on June 2 consistent with that order.

After the executive order was issued, 23 states and the District of Columbia filed a civil lawsuit
challenging its legality and implementation, including its directive to the Postal Service. Last
week, a judgement was issued in the case, declaring the section addressing the Postal Service
legally void. An injunction was also issued, limiting implementation of the executive order with
respect to a subset of states for the upcoming General Election.

Among other items, the order directs the Postal Service to communicate the content of the order
to all employees. This Direct Line is intended to do so, and to provide guidance on the impact of
the court order on the Postal Service. A copy of the Court’s Order is available online.

The Postal Service and its employees are required to comply with the court’s order, under
penalty of contempt.

The Postal Service must continue to transmit and deliver any mail-in or absentee ballots
presented for mailing, consistent with our current guidance on delivery of Election Mail.

The Postal Service may continue to provide non-binding guidance on mailpiece design and
recommend best practices consistent with the current Official Election Mail Guide.

The Postal Service is continuing to evaluate its legal obligations under this order and injunction
and will circulate updates as necessary.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

From General Counsel Keith Weidner

Click here for complete article.

According to the investigation, Harris drove Lockhart to Limerick Drive in Richmond, VA, for the sole purpose of robbing a letter carrier. When the letter carrier, who had parked on that street returned to her mail truck after delivery, Lockhart exited the vehicle wearing a ski mask, brandished a firearm, and demanded her postal keys.

On June 24, 2026, Harris pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery, and on July 7, 2026, Lockhart pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both subjects were remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals and are scheduled to be sentenced in October 2026.

“The safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers are the first priorities of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Damon Wood, inspector in charge of the Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division. “Postal inspectors were relentless in following this investigation through to deliver justice for our colleague.”

The Postal Inspection Service is grateful to the Richmond Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for their continued partnership.

Based on the postal inspectors’ investigation, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Zaloun with 11 counts of felony burglary and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service appreciates the assistance of the Chicago Police Department, specifically the 14th District Robbery/Burglary/Theft Mission Team, in this investigation, as well as its ongoing partnership with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“The Postal Inspection Service will go after anyone who steals mail for financial gain or to further other criminal activity,”
said Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli, Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We value our law enforcement partners for supporting our mission.”

Zaloun was indicted and charged in July 2025 for his role in a burglary and mail theft incidents across Chicago. That investigation was also conducted jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Chicago Police Department.

It is important to note that criminal charges are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.