Doge engages in discussions with White House officials, the revamped US Postal Service administration, and the Treasury regarding potential USPS reforms

In July 2025, David Steiner, a seasoned executive with experience in postal and paper-related industries, was appointed as the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS). His appointment came amidst ongoing efforts to reform the Postal Service, spearheaded by the White House and its Department of Government Efficiency.

The focus of these reforms, as highlighted by various meetings since late March, has been on mail pricing and general reform proposals. Notable figures involved in these discussions include Pierre Gentin, a senior advisor to Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick, and James Sherk, an architect of the Trump administration's initiatives to cut federal rolls and weaken civil service laws.

The Postal Service's leadership team, including David Steiner, has been under scrutiny for discussing significant shakeups, just two weeks before Steiner was due to take over from his predecessor. Mike Plunkett, president of the Association for Postal Commerce, expressed surprise at these developments.

One of the key topics of discussion has been the Postal Regulatory Commission, which Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has identified as a barrier to "timely and necessary changes" for the Postal Service. DeJoy, however, has not authorized the DOGE team to assist with pricing matters or general reform.

In April, USPS officials met to discuss an exigent price increase, a rate hike outside the normal price caps that USPS can request in emergency situations. This comes as the Postal Service is set to raise the price of a stamp to 78 cents in July, marking a 42% increase over the last five years since DeJoy took office.

Trump, in his first term, proposed privatizing USPS, a proposal he has resurrected this year. Elon Musk, who until recently led DOGE's efforts, has also suggested the same. However, Trump's plan to sign an executive order to fold USPS into the Commerce Department never materialized.

The meetings involving top officials from the Treasury Department, White House attorneys and policy advisors, USPS executives, and specific individuals named Alex Simonpour and Ethan Shaotran, have been a subject of much speculation. Simonpour and Shaotran have their own Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the USPS.

In an attempt to shed light on these developments, multiple inquiries were sent to the White House, Treasury Department, and USPS. However, the Postal Service declined to comment for this story, and neither the White House nor the Treasury Department responded.

As the Postal Service navigates these reforms and controversies, the future of this essential public service remains uncertain. The public awaits further information and clarity on the direction these reforms will take and their potential impact on the Postal Service and its users.