Postal Service Leader Defends Role Amid Trump Mail Voting Controversy

David Steiner, the current head of the U.S. Postal Service, finds himself at the center of a political storm, navigating an executive order from Donald Trump aimed at restricting mail-in voting. Steiner, who previously expressed skepticism about Trump's leadership style in a 2007 speech, now asserts his commitment to implementing directives while maintaining his agency's independent status.

"I don't get to decide what rules that are put on us that I decide to accept or not accept," Steiner told The Associated Press. "We are an independent agency of the executive branch." This stance has drawn criticism from various political figures. Colorado's Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold labeled Steiner a "Trump lackey," while Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar accused the Trump administration of attempting to "weaponize federal agencies to interfere in our elections."

Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., described Steiner as a Trump "pawn," and numerous congressional Democrats have sought details on his interactions with the White House regarding the mail ballot rule. Even some Republicans, like Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, have voiced discontent, calling for Steiner's resignation over concerns about abandoned mail.

Steiner, who stated he is not a "political person," expressed surprise at the level of criticism during a lengthy interview. He dismissed heated congressional hearings as "theater" and indicated no intention of resigning. He also recalled being "flippant" in his 2007 remarks about Trump, stating he did not remember the specific comments.

The Postal Service, an agency with a history dating back to Benjamin Franklin, has over 630,000 employees. Steiner, 66, was not a major political donor or a vocal Trump supporter prior to his appointment, unlike his predecessor Louis DeJoy. Steiner's past political donations have included contributions to both Republican and Democratic campaigns, including John Kerry's presidential run in 2004.

Before his tenure at the Postal Service, Steiner served as CEO of Waste Management for 12 years and was a longtime director at FedEx. His compensation at the Postal Service, approximately $346,000 annually plus a relocation bonus, is significantly less than his earnings at Waste Management.

Steiner was hired in 2025 by a board of governors with a Democratic majority, though four Trump nominees are currently awaiting Senate confirmation. He can only be removed by this board. He described his relationship with the White House as minimal, meeting with Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the board's request after his selection.

When Trump revived efforts to restrict mail voting in March, Steiner stated he was not involved in the order's development and first saw it about a month before its signing. His team was asked to review and operationalize the order. The development of a government portal for voter rolls, a key component of the plan, spurred significant internal work at the Postal Service, though the Supreme Court ultimately rejected the effort. A whistleblower report suggested the system was built hastily and contained errors, but Steiner expressed confidence in its potential readiness.

The Postal Service faces ongoing financial challenges, including a $9 billion net loss last year and warnings of potential cash shortages without congressional intervention. Political obstacles have also hindered potential cost-saving measures such as service reductions or post office closures.

Despite the executive order being defunct, the Postal Service's role in elections remains critical. Steiner advised voters to submit mail ballots a week before the election to mitigate potential issues with late postmarks.

While public trust in the Postal Service remains relatively high, Steiner emphasized that the agency's reputation depends on its service delivery. "If we want to have the trust of the American public, let's be the best service provider. Everything else is noise," he stated.