On May 9, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the appointment of David Steiner, a board member of FedEx and former CEO of Waste Management, as the next postmaster general, marking a significant shift in leadership for the agency. Steiner, who is set to become the 76th postmaster general, will officially take over in July 2025, pending the successful completion of necessary ethics and security clearances.
The announcement was made by Amber McReynolds, chairperson of the USPS Board of Governors, during a board meeting. "We anticipate that Mr. Steiner will join the organization in July, assuming his successful completion of the ethics and security clearance processes that are currently underway," McReynolds stated. Steiner succeeds former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who resigned in March 2025.
Steiner, 65, has a history of leadership in the private sector, having led Waste Management through a significant turnaround after a scandal involving falsified financial results in the 1990s. His tenure at Waste Management is noted for streamlining operations and improving the company's financial performance and safety record. Steiner's selection, however, has raised eyebrows among postal unions and critics, who express concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his ties to FedEx, one of USPS's main competitors.
Brian L. Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, voiced strong opposition to Steiner's appointment, stating, "His selection isn’t just a conflict of interest—it’s an aggressive step toward handing America’s mail system over to corporate interests. Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiner’s selection is an open invitation to do just that." Renfroe's union represents over 205,000 active city letter carriers and approximately 90,000 retirees.
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, echoed similar sentiments, likening Steiner's appointment to a "fox guarding a hen house." He emphasized that FedEx operates under a very different agenda than that of the public postal service, raising concerns about the future of USPS under Steiner's leadership.
In response to the criticism, Steiner expressed admiration for the USPS's public service mission, stating, "I deeply admire the public service and business mission of this amazing institution, and I believe strongly in maintaining its role as an independent establishment of the executive branch." He also indicated his eagerness to engage with USPS employees and unions to foster a positive work environment.
The backdrop of Steiner's appointment includes ongoing discussions surrounding the potential privatization of USPS, a topic that has gained traction among certain political circles, particularly under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have raised the idea of privatizing the nearly 250-year-old Postal Service, which has faced financial challenges amid a changing mail mix and other issues.
Critics of privatization argue that such moves would undermine the universal service obligation that USPS has to serve nearly 167 million residences, businesses, and post office boxes across the country. The Postal Service has been operating under a 10-year modernization and cost-cutting plan known as "Delivering for America," initiated by DeJoy in 2021, aimed at addressing its longstanding financial struggles.
Despite these efforts, USPS reported a net loss of $9.5 billion in the fiscal year 2024 and a further loss of $3.3 billion in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, as noted by Luke Grossmann, USPS chief financial officer. The agency, which operates on a budget of about $78 billion a year, relies primarily on the sale of stamps and services for funding, receiving no tax dollars for its operations.
Steiner's appointment comes at a crucial time when the USPS is attempting to navigate its financial challenges while maintaining service levels that millions of Americans rely on for sending and receiving medications, payments, ballots, and other essential mail. The board's decision to appoint Steiner is seen as one of the most significant moves in the agency's recent history, as it strives to modernize and adapt to the evolving landscape of mail and package delivery.
As the USPS continues to face scrutiny over its financial viability and operational efficiency, Steiner's leadership will be closely watched by stakeholders across the spectrum. With the potential for significant changes on the horizon, including discussions of moving USPS under the control of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the future of the Postal Service remains uncertain.
In conclusion, David Steiner's appointment as postmaster general signals a pivotal moment for the USPS as it grapples with the challenges of modernization, financial sustainability, and the ongoing debate over its role in American society. As unions and critics raise alarms about the implications of his ties to FedEx, the coming months will reveal how Steiner's leadership will shape the future of this vital institution.
