Postal Issues Uncovered in Northern Minnesota, Senators Seek Answers

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar say a new report confirms that there are serious postal service management failures in northern Minnesota.

They say an investigation found nearly 79,000 pieces of delayed mail at Bemidji Post Office.

“When the mail is unreliable, it hurts Minnesotans, especially those who rely on the Postal Service to pay bills and receive paychecks and prescriptions.   Yet when I ask the Postal Service for information on these disruptions, they insist everything is fine. This report confirmed what I’ve heard from Minnesotans and postal workers across the state for years: the Postal Service management is failing Minnesotans,” said Senator Smith. “This isn’t the end of this story. The Inspector General’s district-wide report will be released soon, and I look forward to getting a full picture so we can hold the Postal Service accountable for real solutions.”

“Families in Bemidji and the surrounding communities rely on the Postal Service every day for everything from their prescriptions to paychecks, but I received troubling reports about significant delays and issues with local mail delivery. That is why I called for an investigation and for solutions,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The results of this audit are very concerning and the Postal Service must work to implement the Inspector General’s recommendations to improve operations and provide Northern Minnesota post offices with the resources they need to serve their customers.  Minnesotans deserve to have a reliable and responsive Postal Service.”

Smith and Klobuchar have asked USPS for answers to widespread missing and delayed mail deliveries across Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Sen. John Hoeven and Sen. Kevin Cramer are part of a bipartisan group calling on the Postmaster General to halt all planned changes to the mail processing and delivery network.

There are continued concerns about changes to mail processing facilities in Grand Forks and Bismarck.

“Force the U.S. Postal Service to evaluate the changes they are making and provide information to the public so that we know any changes they make will actually improve mail service,” said Hoeven.

“We call on USPS to pause all changes, pending a full study of this plan by its regulator. While USPS claims these changes overall will improve service while reducing costs, there is evidence to the contrary in locations where USPS has implemented changes so far,” wrote the senators. “USPS must stop implementation, restore service in those areas where changes were implemented, and fully understand the nationwide effects of its plan on service and communities.” 

Smith and Klobuchar were not part of the bipartisan group sending the letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy but a spokesperson for Klobuchar says she supports the intent of the letter.