On April 7, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin demanded answers from Postmaster General David Steiner regarding long-term mail delays and staffing shortages at post offices across Wisconsin. These issues impact local businesses, newspapers, and Wisconsin families who rely on USPS for prescriptions, bills, voting, public information and more.
Several newspapers, including the Watertown Daily Times, the Daily Jefferson County Union in Fort Atkinson and the Milwaukee Community Journal published pieces about Baldwin’s demand on April 8, 2026. According to the stories:
“I write you today to express my frustrations with ongoing mail delays and staffing shortages throughout Wisconsin,” wrote Baldwin. “This is not the first time I have reached out to the United States Postal Service (USPS) about mail delivery issues on behalf of my constituents.
“Millions of Wisconsinites rely on the Postal Service to stay in touch with loved ones, pay bills, receive much-needed medications and cast their vote. We have a duty to find solutions to these difficulties for the people we serve.”
In the letter, Senator Baldwin stated that Wisconsinites across the state have faced significant delays in receiv- ing their mail from USPS. Service delays have been especially pronounced in Brown Deer and Madison, where residents reported weeks-long delays in mail delivery.
These delays follow USPS’ implementation of the Local Transportation Optimization (LTO) policy, an overhaul spearheaded by former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that has caused widespread service issues since its introduc-tion.
A March 2025 report by the USPS Office of Inspector General found a general decrease in service in Wisconsin after LTO was implemented.
Watertown residents have cited delays in receiving their mail or newspapers. Jane Hollatz, who lives on North Montgomery Street in Watertown, said she sometimes has to call the Watertown Post Office to ask where her mail is.
“Sometimes you don’t get any mail for a day or two and then they’ll deliver it the next day,” she said. “We should be getting our mail and newspapers every day, but we don’t. It’s off and on so I’ll call them.”
Watertown postal workers and residents alike have felt the pinch of an understaffed postal service. In January, Watertown Postal Carrier Glenda Syzmanski spoke to the Watertown Daily Times about the subject.
“We’re extremely short-staffed,” Szymanski said.
Syzmanski had taken the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and the next day, a Tuesday, off as her break. However, no one covered her route for her, and on her first day back to work that same week, a Wednesday, she worked a 12-hour day to get the mail delivered.
Rhianon Morgan was a postal carrier in training let go after her three month probationary period because, according to the Postal Service, she was, “not moving fast enough”. She cited poor organization and training as some of the main reasons for her dismissal — one pertinent example being that she was given a scanner for her route, but never trained on how to use it.
Baldwin questions USPS Postmaster General
Baldwin has repeatedly called on the USPS to address rate hikes and delays Wisconsinites are experiencing. In 2024, Baldwin led a group of her colleagues in calling out USPS leadership for unsustainable price hikes and poor service. Baldwin also called on former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to immediately address costly mail delays suffered by Wisconsin newspapers that rely on the USPS. Among the questions:
• What was the retention rate among pre-career and career USPS employees from Fiscal Year 2024 to Fiscal Year 2025 in Wisconsin? What are the nationwide retention rates among pre-career and career USPS employees from Fiscal Year 2024 to Fiscal Year 2025?
• How many USPS employees currently work in Wisconsin? How many open positions does USPS currently have?
• Is USPS concerned with staffing shortages and retention rates in Wisconsin? If so, besides job fairs, what solutions have been implemented to address staffing challenges in Wisconsin, specifically?
• How successful have the USPS-sponsored job fairs been at hiring new employees in Wisconsin and nationwide? Thus far, have job fairs resulted in long-term employment for Wisconsinites?
• How has the USPS responded to the issues raised in the March 2025 OIG report regarding LTO implementation?
• Has the USPS implemented the process to track Local Transportation Optimization savings as agreed to in the March 2025 USPS OIG Report? If so, can you provide an explanation of the process and any current findings?
• How will USPS ensure customers are immediately notified of any impacts to service in their area moving forward?
Baldwin encouraged any Wisconsinites impacted by mail delays to reach out to all their members of Congress and contact Baldwin’s office by calling 608-264-5338 or by filling out the form online at baldwin.senate.gov/mystory.
