The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability convened on December 31, 2024, to discuss the ongoing oversight of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), focusing on the implications of the "Delivering for America" plan proposed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The meeting highlighted concerns regarding potential service declines and job losses in Central Illinois, particularly affecting the Champaign and Springfield processing and distribution centers.

A key point of discussion was the proposed downsizing and consolidation of these facilities into larger centers in St. Louis and Chicago. Representative from Illinois expressed deep concerns that this would result in outgoing mail from Central Illinois traveling an additional 100 miles before reaching its final destination. This change, they argued, would exacerbate existing service issues, as the region has already experienced substandard mail delivery performance.

In response to a direct question about whether constituents could expect declines in on-time mail performance due to these changes, DeJoy assured that there would be no additional delays similar to those experienced in Richmond, Virginia, following similar operational changes. However, the representative pressed for clarity on the impact of these changes on local employment, noting that the Champaign center employs over 200 workers and the Springfield center over 170. DeJoy acknowledged the expected net loss of jobs but emphasized the USPS's commitment to providing alternative employment opportunities through attrition and the potential for increased package delivery business in the area.

The discussion also touched on the regional transportation optimization plan, which would limit mail pickups for post offices located more than 50 miles from a regional processing center to once per day. This plan raised alarms about creating up to 24 hours of additional delays for rural regions, including downstate Illinois, where on-time delivery rates for first-class mail were already low. DeJoy defended the plan by stating that it aims to reshape the postal service to address financial losses and improve operational efficiency, arguing that the proposed changes would ultimately accelerate the delivery of 90% of mail in rural areas.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from DeJoy to ensure that employees feel secure in their jobs during this transition and to follow up on the concerns raised regarding service performance and employment opportunities. The committee's discussions underscored the ongoing challenges facing the USPS as it navigates operational changes while striving to maintain service standards and workforce stability.