What has happened to a once-proud, efficient U.S. government department in the past few years? I have lived across the U.S., enjoying world-class mail service for much of my life. The last decade witnessed a slide in quality and efficiency of service, especially in the past five to six years. In watching the personal work ethic of our carriers, I don’t think it is them.

Talking with a 25-year veteran carrier recently, she said the job has become intolerable. Can it be leadership and funding by the administration and Congress? Why does the agency have trouble hiring people now for what used to be sought-after jobs?

If not the workers themselves, then I look back at leadership and funding levels. I must admit that I didn’t pay attention to who held the postmaster general’s job until Louis DeJoy was appointed during the Trump Administration, but under his leadership, morale and efficiency plummeted.

I have paid more attention to funding levels over the past decade and the pattern seems to be to underfund the U.S. Postal Service in hopes that private industry will come to the rescue. Neither of these strategies is working. Complaints from all over Colorado, especially in the rural areas, are mounting. I only received mail once this past week.

It is time for a drastic change. All hands on deck. Congress simply must adequately fund the Postal Service. DeJoy must be fired and replaced with a competent person. He has ruined the agency.

G. Sam Foster

Durango