Postmaster General Louis DeJoy may hold one of the most critical positions in federal service, but based on his latest display during a House Oversight Committee hearing, you’d think he was auditioning for a reboot of Toddlers and Tiaras. Covering his ears while being questioned? Really? That’s not just unprofessional—it’s downright embarrassing for a man tasked with running the United States Postal Service (USPS).
The incident unfolded as Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.) grilled DeJoy on his leadership—or, as McCormick suggested, the lack thereof—at the USPS. The congressman didn’t mince words, telling DeJoy that the American people “graded” him poorly by increasingly abandoning postal services. DeJoy’s defense? He tried to argue that the USPS was growing, but when McCormick didn’t let up, DeJoy literally covered his ears, declaring, “You’re talking to yourself.”
What is this guy, 12? This kind of petulant behavior wouldn’t fly in a middle school classroom, let alone in Congress. If DeJoy were a courtroom defendant, he might have earned himself a contempt charge and a few nights in jail. Yet here he is, a high-ranking federal official acting like a child who’s just been told he can’t have dessert before dinner.
This tantrum isn’t just a bad look—it’s emblematic of the broader dysfunction within our federal government. DeJoy’s job is to oversee an organization that managed to lose a staggering $6.5 billion in fiscal year 2023. Yes, billion. With a “B.” Instead of financial stability, DeJoy delivered excuses, blaming inflation and declining junk mail volumes for the USPS’s woes. Never mind that his agency received a temporary bump in package shipments due to the threat of a UPS strike. Somehow, even that silver lining wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding.
Holy Sht! This is the Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy.
He acts like a spoiled child as he covers his ears while Rep McCormick tells him he has bankrupted the USPS.
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) December 11, 2024
Let’s be clear: the USPS’s financial struggles didn’t start with DeJoy, but his leadership hasn’t exactly turned things around. The agency projected it would break even last year as part of its supposed path to profitability. Instead, it fell flat on its face, delivering disappointment rather than results. And now, DeJoy’s immature antics only add insult to injury for the taxpayers footing the bill.
Back in the private sector, a stunt like DeJoy’s ear-covering performance would likely result in an immediate pink slip. Federal service, however, seems to operate in an alternate reality where accountability is a quaint relic of the past. If we can’t expect professionalism from the man running the USPS, how can we trust him to fix its multi-billion-dollar deficit or implement meaningful reforms?
The larger issue here is a crisis of competency—and now, a crisis of maturity—within the federal government. This isn’t just about DeJoy; it’s a pattern we’ve seen across agencies, where bureaucrats seem more interested in deflecting blame and dodging responsibility than doing their jobs. Americans deserve better.
DOGE: Target the Post Office and find out what Louis DeJoy has been doing.
h/t @alx pic.twitter.com/bFJTzV7uNa
— @amuse (@amuse) December 11, 2024
It’s time for President-elect Trump to step in and find a new Postmaster General who can deliver results, not excuses. Someone with the financial acumen to address the USPS’s ongoing losses and, more importantly, the professionalism to represent the agency with dignity. After all, the USPS isn’t just a relic of the past—it’s still a vital service for millions of Americans. It needs leadership that’s serious about the job, not someone who covers their ears when the questions get tough.
Louis DeJoy has made one thing clear: he’s not the adult in the room. Let’s hope the next administration can find someone who is.
