Judge Stanley Bastian blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election.
The U.S. judge he is issuing a nationwide preliminary injunction sought by 14 states that sued the Trump administration and the U.S. Postal Service.
The states challenged the Postal Service’s eloquently-titled “leave mail behind” policy, in which trucks have been leaving postal facilities on time whether or not there is more mail to load.
They also sought to force the Postal Service to treat election mail as First Class mail.
Judge Bastian said he will issue a written order later in the day, but that it will be substantially the same as that sought by the states.
Following a national uproar, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major donor to President Donald Trump and the GOP, announced he was suspending the removal of the iconic blue mailboxes in many cities and the decommissioning of mail processing machines.
It has been brought to national attention that many people, including the elderly and military veterans, have had their medications show up late – or not at all – during a time when many won’t or can’t get to their doctor due to the on-going pandemic.
Livestock, such as baby chicks, have shown up dead to their destinations because of significantly delayed mailing processes, as well.
The other states suing include Washington, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia — all led by Democratic attorney generals.
Other lawsuits over the changes have been brought in New York and Pennsylvania.
