The new Postmaster General is David Steiner, appointed by the USPS Board of Governors on May 9, 2025, and sworn in as the 76th Postmaster General on July 15, 2025.1United States Postal Service. Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer David Steiner He replaced Louis DeJoy, who retired on March 24, 2025, after nearly five years in the role.2United States Postal Service. Postal Service Postmaster General/CEO Leadership Transition Steiner now runs an agency with more than 624,000 employees and $80.5 billion in fiscal year 2025 operating revenue.3United States Postal Service. U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2025 Results
Steiner’s Background
Steiner comes to the Postal Service from the private sector. He was CEO of Waste Management from 2004 to 2016, running a company with $20.4 billion in revenue and roughly 50,000 employees across North America. He joined Waste Management in 2000 and moved up from general counsel to chief financial officer before taking the top job.1United States Postal Service. Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer David Steiner
Before Waste Management, he practiced law as a partner at Phelps Dunbar. He holds an accounting degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from UCLA. After leaving Waste Management he served on several corporate boards, most notably as lead independent director at FedEx, giving him a direct view of how a major competitor in package logistics runs its operation.1United States Postal Service. Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer David Steiner
How the Transition Happened
DeJoy announced in February 2025 that the Board of Governors should begin searching for his successor.4United States Postal Service. United States Postal Service Announces Tenure Plan of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy The board named Steiner on May 9, 2025.5United States Postal Service. USPS Board of Governors Appoints David Steiner to Be 76th Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service After ethics and security vetting, he formally took office on July 15, 2025. Doug Tulino serves alongside him as Deputy Postmaster General.6United States Postal Service. Board of Governors
What the Postmaster General Does
Federal law designates the Postmaster General as the chief executive officer of the Postal Service.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 39 USC 203 – Postmaster General; Deputy Postmaster General That means running an operation of more than 31,000 retail locations and over 624,000 employees, one of the largest civilian workforces in the country.8United States Postal Service. Total Post Offices (Postal Service-managed)
Day to day, the job covers delivery standards, processing network schedules, pricing strategy, and labor relations. Any proposed changes to postal rates or service standards have to be coordinated with the Postal Regulatory Commission, an independent federal body that monitors compliance with pricing and performance requirements.9Postal Regulatory Commission. Re-introducing the Postal Regulatory Commission The Postmaster General also implements the agency’s long-term strategic plans, currently Delivering for America, a ten-year plan covering infrastructure modernization, vehicle fleet electrification, and financial performance targets.10United States Postal Service. Delivering for America
Who Appoints the Postmaster General
The Postmaster General is not chosen by the President. Under federal law, the USPS Board of Governors has sole authority to appoint and remove the officeholder.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 39 USC 202 – Board of Governors The board has up to nine governors, each nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Once appointed, the Postmaster General becomes a voting board member alongside the governors and the Deputy Postmaster General.
The structure is designed to keep the Postal Service independent of the White House. The President cannot fire the Postmaster General; removal takes a majority vote of the governors. The board also sets pay and term length, with no fixed length in statute.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 39 USC 202 – Board of Governors As of 2026, only four of the nine governor seats are filled: Amber McReynolds as Chair, Derek Kan as Vice Chairman, Ronald Stroman, and Daniel Tangherlini.6United States Postal Service. Board of Governors
Steiner’s Priorities
At his first Board of Governors meeting in August 2025, Steiner said financial sustainability is his top focus, noting that operating on a sustainable basis is a legal requirement and pledging to align costs to revenue over the long term.12United States Postal Service. Remarks by Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner at the Postal Service Board of Governors Meeting, August 7, 2025
Service improvement came second, which he tied directly to revenue: better delivery performance brings more volume. He also called the workforce the Postal Service’s greatest asset and committed to safer conditions for carriers, clerks, and mail handlers.12United States Postal Service. Remarks by Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner at the Postal Service Board of Governors Meeting, August 7, 2025
On the Delivering for America strategic plan inherited from DeJoy, Steiner endorsed the direction but said it needs sharper execution. He signaled particular focus on growing the package shipping business, saying the Postal Service should become customers’ provider of choice any time they ship a package.12United States Postal Service. Remarks by Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner at the Postal Service Board of Governors Meeting, August 7, 2025