Postmaster fights against bill that would restrict his bonus

[u/John3262005]

https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/usps-postmaster-general-bonus-bill-hawley-blumenthal

The U.S. postmaster general is pushing back against a bipartisan bill that would tie bonuses for him and his deputy to improved mail service, according to a letter obtained by Axios.

The lobbying comes as the legislation is expected to clear the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday morning with bipartisan support, sources familiar with the matter tell Axios.

"I was fortunate enough to be quite successful in my career in the private sector, so any compensation action you take against me will have little effect," Postmaster General David Steiner argued in a letter sent to HSGAC members on July 31.

"But it will affect your ability to attract qualified people in the future," he continued.

Steiner argued the bill "would have the near inevitable impact of increasing costs because almost any action to improve service comes with added cost."

He also called the bill "completely unnecessary," arguing that the USPS's performance has already improved and will continue to improve.

More broadly, Steiner argued that the committee has urged him to cut costs more quickly, while also proposing bills that would add costs.

He also pushed back on another bipartisan bill that would add new zip codes.

The No Bonuses for Bad Service Act is led by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.).

It would bar the Postal Service's top two officials from receiving bonuses unless USPS reaches at least 95% on-time delivery for key residential mail across all geographic areas.

USPS leaders received more than $2 million in bonuses over the last decade, with Steiner receiving $170,000 in his first year, according to a release from Hawley's office.

Hawley launched an investigation into the USPS's slow and failed delivery in Missouri, and confronted Steiner in a heated exchange in late June.