Josh Hawley broadens investigation into USPS oversight focusing on Alvarez & Marsal

Sen. Josh Hawley Probes USPS’s Use of Outside Consultants

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) is broadening his inquiry into the U.S. Postal Service, alleging that Postmaster General David Steiner has been neglecting Congressional oversight. Hawley is specifically looking for documents related to the USPS’s reliance on external restructuring consultants as the organization faces significant financial losses.

In a recent letter, Hawley expressed frustration that his office had received no documents since his oversight request on June 30. He indicated that the investigation would now include the consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal, which Steiner admitted had been brought on to assist with planning for the Postal Service’s financial future.

“To date, my office has not received any documentation pursuant to the June 30 letter,” Hawley stated, questioning Steiner’s commitment to complying with Congressional oversight. He firmly expects full adherence to oversight requirements without delay.

Hawley noted that it is essential for Congress to scrutinize the relationship between the USPS and Alvarez & Marsal, especially given the ongoing financial turmoil within the Postal Service. He raised concerns about the USPS’s decision to engage outside consultants and grant executive bonuses while predicting further losses in the billions.

“It’s astonishing that during a financial crisis, you and other USPS executives still find a way to pay annual bonuses and hire firms like A&M, all while the quality of service deteriorates,” he pointed out.

In his letter, Hawley requested detailed records regarding how Alvarez & Marsal was hired, their compensation, and whether their recommendations included potential closures of local post offices or reductions in local delivery services. He also inquired if the USPS plans to share their recommendations with Congress or the public.

This expanded investigation follows an earlier probe where Hawley investigated delays in mail delivery in St. Louis. That investigation sought records related to discarded mail, potential criminal activity, and executive bonuses. This came after a contentious Senate hearing where Hawley openly challenged Steiner over significant amounts of discarded mail.

Hawley criticized Steiner for his lack of awareness regarding the mail incident and publicly urged him to resign if he wouldn’t relinquish his performance bonus.

In his latest communication, Hawley reiterated that the USPS has failed to respond to his initial records request. He pointed out the Postal Service’s estimated losses of $25 billion over the last three fiscal years, with an anticipated loss of at least $8.1 billion for fiscal year 2026, despite previously enacted reforms aimed at financial improvement.

“If the Postal Service is going to tackle its losses by hiring A&M, Congress needs to be informed about what that entails, and ensure that USPS service standards don’t suffer further during any restructuring,” he wrote.