U.S. Postal Service boxes may have been removed from Bozeman and Livingston, with plans to remove more from Billings, according to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.
Tester, a Montana Democrat, said in a Thursday news release that he is pushing Postmaster General Louis Dejoy for answers about how many boxes have been removed, and from where.
The report comes on the same day President Trump said he opposes additional funding for the Postal Service for all-mail voting for the November election, which many are calling for to avoid crowding at the polls during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Postal Service has begun removing mail-sorting machines across the country and boxes from other areas in the country, including in Oregon.
Tester said he included these questions to DeJoy in a letter:
- Has the USPS removed any collection boxes in the past 30 days in Montana? If so, please provide the number of units removed by town.
- Specifically, my office received reports that units were recently removed from Bozeman and Lewistown. Are there any ongoing orders to remove any collection boxes in Montana?
- For instance, my office received reports that the USPS is in the process of removing units in Billings. If the USPS has recently or is planning to remove collection boxes, what is the rationale being used?
- When were the last density tests conducted?
- Will you make the results of those tests and any other data related to the removal of units public?
- How have you communicated with the public and local elected officials to ensure there would not be a disruption in the critical service the USPS provides to these communities?
- Has the USPS recently reassigned or added collection boxes to improve accessibility?
Read the full letter here.
