Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks USPS Policy Changes

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Postal Service and Postmaster General Louis Dejoy from changing USPS policies or protocols ahead of November’s election. Judge Stanley Bastian, of eastern Washington’s U.S. district court says they’ve slowed mail nationwide and believes it’s a quote “politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the postal service” before the November election. He’s issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction sought by 14 states that sued the Trump Administration and the USPS. The states challenged the postal service’s so-called “leave behind” policy, where trucks leave postal facilities on time regardless of whether there is more mail to load. They’re also seeking to force the postal service to treat election mail as first class mail. Bastian also said the changes created a quote “substantial possibility many voters will be disenfranchised.” A spokesperson for the postal service has said the organization is reviewing its legal options, but “there should be no doubt that they’re ready and committed to handle whatever volume of election mail it receives.”