The U.S. Postal Service’s governing board is set to appoint David Steiner, a member of the FedEx board and former CEO of Waste Management, as the next postmaster general, following his endorsement by President Donald Trump. This decision has raised concerns, as it marks the first instance where the White House has played a direct role in the selection of the postmaster general, signaling potential challenges to the agency’s independence.
FedEx, which has both competitive and collaborative ties with the Postal Service, reportedly supported Steiner for the position. The Postal Service had made headlines last year by switching from FedEx to UPS for a significant contract regarding domestic air cargo services. Additionally, FedEx has recently begun to manage final-mile deliveries of certain low-value and non-urgent parcels, which were previously handled by the Postal Service in some regions.
The meeting of the board is scheduled for Friday; however, the agenda does not indicate a definitive vote on the appointment of a new postmaster general. These developments reflect ongoing tensions and changes within the Postal Service and its relationships with major competitors in the package delivery industry.
This situation underscores the evolving dynamics in delivery services and raises questions about the implications for postal operations going forward. While the Federal Government’s involvement may draw scrutiny, it also presents an opportunity to reassess and innovate within the USPS framework, potentially paving the way for new strategies in the ever-changing landscape of parcel delivery.