Government affairs

President Donald Trump has nominated three individuals to the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service (USPS):

David Williams, for the remainder of a seven-year term expiring Dec. 8, 2019. Williams previously served as the Postal Service’s inspector general from 2003 until his retirement in 2016.

Calvin Tucker, for the remainder of a term expiring Dec. 8, 2023. Tucker is president of a financial services consulting firm and chairman of the Philadelphia Black Republican Council. He has had some experience with UPS, having previously owned and managed International Mailing Technologies.

Robert M. (Mike) Duncan, for the remainder of a seven-year term expiring Dec. 8, 2018, and an additional term expiring Dec. 8, 2025. Duncan is a banker and the former chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2007 to 2009. He previously worked in the administrations of both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, serving as head of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Earlier this year, President Trump appointed Duncan to lead the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.

As letter carriers are aware, the Board of Governors, which was created by the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (PRA) to oversee and direct the executive management of the Postal Service, has been essentially vacant since last December, when the term of the last remaining appointee expired—although Postmaster General Megan Brennan and Deputy PMG Ronald Stroman are members of the board, by virtue of their offices.

The nominees must be reviewed by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) before they can be sent to the full Senate for a confirmation vote. Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) has not indicated when he plans to hold a hearing on the nominees, and there is no word on additional nominees for the board’s remaining six vacancies. NALC will continue to work with the Senate and the Trump administration to ensure that letter carriers’ interests are represented.