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Issa: Time to 'right-size' the Postal Service workforce
The United States Postal Service (USPS) needs to "right-size" its workforce, but can do so without a heavy hand, according to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
The House Oversight Committee chairman said Monday that a slew of postal workers should be retired, and while the Postal Service has "more than a small cash-flow problem," it can be returned to solvency.
"This is an organization that can be profitable, that can meet all of its responsibilities," he said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
And requiring workers to retire, if eligible, would go a long way toward reducing payroll pressure, he said.
"We aren't talking about pay cuts," he said. "We are talking about retiring people who are no longer needed because you and I are emailing."
Issa said there were roughly 150,000 postal workers eligible to retire right now, with more becoming eligible in the next few years.
"You can get the 200,000 or so excess workers off the payroll without having to use punitive measures," he said.
While the USPS ultimately needs to return to self-sufficiency, Issa indicated that universal access to postal services remains a priority.
"Universal service is part of the mandate, and we think that's extremely important," he said.
Issa's comments come as the Postal Service struggles to stay above water amid high levels of debt.
The USPS is expected to hit its $15 billion borrowing limit by the end of September, and has indicated it would not be able to make the $5.5 billion payment due at that time. As the USPS seeks to delay that payment until the end of the year, those struggles are driving concerns that the agency could default.
On Friday, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) called on the president to take "immediate and dramatic action" to save the USPS, and touted his own bill to shore up its finances.
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