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Trump's Mail Voting Crackdown Tests Postal Service Leader Who Says He's 'Not Political'
Steiner finalized the rule despite court pushback and criticism that the Postal Service was being used to influence mail voting.
Postmaster General David Steiner implemented President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail ballots, arguing he had no choice despite accusations of allowing political interference in an independent agency.
Critics, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, labeled Steiner a "Trump lackey," while Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri demanded his resignation over the mail-ballot implementation.
After the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the restrictive rule, Steiner halted development of a controversial government portal for voter rolls, noting he "wasn't in on the development piece" of the order.
With a $9 billion net loss last year, the Postal Service faces mounting financial pressure; Steiner warned the agency could soon run out of cash unless Congress lifts a $15 billion borrowing cap.
Polls conducted last year showed 56% of Americans viewed the agency favorably, though Steiner encouraged voters to submit ballots one week early to avoid potential delays or rejections regarding late postmarks.