Hawley Presses Postmaster General to Answer for Bonus Payments, Poor Service During St. Louis Visit

Hawley Presses Postmaster General to Answer for Bonus Payments, Poor Service During St. Louis Visit

Thursday, September 03, 2026

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) released the following statement on Postmaster David Steiner's anticipated Friday visit to St. Louis. The photo-op by the Postmaster comes after months of failure to provide acceptable answers regarding his bonus payments and poor mail service in the state.

"Missourians have suffered poor mail service for years and it's grossly unacceptable. They deserve answers," said Senator Hawley. "Instead of posing for a photo op, the Postmaster General can return his bonus to taxpayers, pledge his full cooperation with congressional investigations, and support my bill to restrict bonuses for postal executives until Missourians receive their mail on time."

The statement comes after Senator Hawley launched a comprehensive investigation into major U.S Postal Service (USPS) failures in Missouri in addition to lavish bonus compensation for USPS executives. This investigation followed Senator Hawley's questioning of Postmaster General Steiner at a Senate hearing earlier this year during which Senator Hawley revealed that postal executives had received millions in bonuses over the past decade as USPS service standards and financials lagged.

In July, in a strong bipartisan vote, the Senate Homeland Security Committee passed Senator Hawley's legislation to restrict bonus payouts for the Postmaster General. The legislation now heads to the Senate floor.

Senator Hawley's office continues to investigate USPS and numerous questions remain unanswered. Senator Hawley's office has not received a single requested document from USPS during the investigation.

Below are major questions for the Postmaster General that need timely public answers:

1. Does the Postmaster General support Senator Hawley's legislation to restrict bonuses for USPS executives until performance improves?
2. Why has the Postmaster General retained New York consultants Alvarez & Marsal? What is the scope of work?
3. Have these consultants recommended any closures of rural post offices in Missouri?
4. Why has the Postmaster General suspended employer pension contributions for postal workers while he accepted a bonus and hired outside consultants? Is there a plan to make postal workers whole?
5. Following the discovery of pile of undelivered mail in St. Louis in April 2026, what reforms has the Postmaster General made to ensure this never happens again?

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