NEW CASTLE, Del. – Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. Postal Service, discovered dismantled mail processing machinery during an impromptu visit to the USPS Mail Processing and Distribution Center.

"Right behind me is a sophisticated barcode sorter; this is the sort of automated mail handling equipment that U.S. Post Master General Louis DeJoy has had removed," Sen. Coons said in a video message released today. "This was just removed from this facility Sunday night and put outside, so it's been here for days in the rain. I think it's important that the postmaster general has said he is going to put the brakes on any further changes to service delivery standards to the equipment or handling of mail, but this is physical proof that reversing those changes is going to be expensive and difficult because this equipment isn't serviceable again. So, I'm going to demand in the United States Senate that we get a firm and written commitment from the postmaster general that he will reverse the changes he's made to the delivery standards for our mail. Two-thousand Delawareans have reached out to me to express their concerns about late delivery of medications, late delivery of Social Security checks, and late delivery of mail. The mail isn't a business; it's a treasured service and a critical part of our nation, and with an election coming up soon, this fall, we cannot afford to put at risk the delivery of every mail-in ballot."

The surprise visit by Coons to the New Castle-based facility comes amid allegations that the postmaster general is purposely sabotaging his own agency, causing delays in the delivery of letters and packages throughout the country.

Postal Service employees alert senator to overnight dismantling operation, removal of mail sorting equipment at New Castle USPS Mail Processing and Distribution Center in Delaware.