Faced with growing criticism of his handling of USPS operations, DeJoy was outraged during a congressional hearing Thursday about what degree he should get for his efforts.
Initially, DeJoy resists himself with the rating, saying, “I’m not giving points, I’m just working,” and later adding, “I’m not going to give myself a mark.”
After being pushed by Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, DeJoy finally said, “I’m giving myself an ‘A’ to bring strategy and planning and effort here. ‘
“And as I did in my last testimony in Congress as the leader of the organization, I take responsibility for how we have performed during this season. And I apologize to the American public,” DeJoy told a subcommittee of the Home Compensation said. a series of apologies dating back to last year.
Meanwhile, DeJoy also repeatedly found himself in the hot seat on Capitol Hill during hearings on USPS operations, where he joked with Democratic lawmakers about the slow delivery rates, the 2020 election and an upcoming ten-year plan to revamp the postal service.
In another controversial exchange Thursday, the Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan, asked DeJoy about the postal services and encouraged him to give details to Congress on future USPS changes.
“I’m going to use all my power to stop press releases about massive changes and at least give the United States Congress to know your plan,” said Lawrence, who has had a thirty-year career. . the Postal Service.
DeJoy first responded by noting how Lawrence was “known and respected in the Postal Service for your career and position today.” “But honestly, the Postal Service of today and the state we are in is not the Postal Service of 2008 when you retired,” he continued. “We’re in a serious, serious financial crisis.”
Lawrence replied, “I’m not naive,” and said she was watching USPS operations while in Congress. “So do not imply that I am ignorant.”
Following this, later in the trial, Lawrence stressed that there should be a partnership between USPS and Congress.
“I do not want to be in this position again where we are going tit-for-tat and you seem annoyed and arrogant about answering the questions. We have to work together because the Postal Service is bigger than you and me,” she said. said.
DeJoy admitted that he was sometimes a little embarrassed about his behavior during these hearings, which often grew fiercely over criticism of his decision-making at the helm of USPS.
“Yeah, there are times that I leave these sessions, and I’m a little embarrassed about my behavior,” DeJoy said.
“But I also want to present – I’m accused of many, many, many things every time I come before Congress. And I’m human and try to do the right thing. And I apologize to you when I insulted in some way, ‘he told Lawrence.