WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service Board said Friday that David Steiner will lead the agency. Pending a background and ethics check, he is expected to start as postmaster general in July.

What You Need To Know

  • The United States Postal Service Board said Friday that David Steiner will lead the agency

  • Pending a background and ethics check, he is expected to start as Postmaster General in July

  • Steiner is the former CEO of the country’s largest waste hauler, Waste Management Inc., and currently serves on the board of directors for FedEx

  • The National Association of Letter Carriers protested Steiner’s appointment, saying his "selection isn’t just a conflict of interest — it’s an aggressive step toward handing America’s mail system over to corporate interests"

“Dave is the right person to lead the Postal Service at this time to ensure this magnificent and historic organization thrives into the future,” Postal Service Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds said in a statement. “Dave is a highly regarded leader and executive with tremendous vision, experience and skill that can be applied to the long-term mission and business needs of the Postal Service.”

Steiner is the former CEO of the country’s largest waste hauler, Waste Management Inc., and currently serves on the board of directors for FedEx.

His appointment comes less than two months after former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigned after nearly five years on the job.

The change in leadership comes amid concerns that President Donald Trump may attempt to privatize the independent postal service.

Started in 1775, the mission of the USPS is to provide the nation with affordable and reliable mail service. In recent years, the USPS has struggled with declines in the volume of first-class mail and increased expenses that have caused slower delivery times and financial problems.

The National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 295,000 active and retired letter carriers, protested Steiner’s appointment, saying his background presents a clear conflict of interest since he comes from a top USPS competitor. 

“His selection isn’t just a conflict of interest — it’s an aggressive step toward handing America’s mail system over to corporate interests,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said in a statement. “Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiner’s selection is an open invitation to do just that.

“This isn’t just bad policy,” Renfroe added. “It’s a direct assault on the workers who keep the mail moving and the public connected.”