Johnson Issues Ultimatum to Postmaster General Over South Dakota Mail Delays

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - Citing a downward trend in service performance and thousands of constituent complaints, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) is demanding accountability from the United States Postal Service (USPS) leadership. In a weekly column released Friday, Johnson issued a firm deadline for improvement, stating he will call for the resignation of Postmaster General David Steiner if meaningful changes are not seen by July 2026.

The ultimatum follows a recent roundtable in Sioux Falls, where Johnson was joined by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. The event allowed South Dakotans to share firsthand accounts of medication delays, lost packages, and significant financial losses caused by unreliable mail delivery.

Survey Highlights Widespread Frustration

At the end of December, Johnson surveyed residents across the state regarding their experiences with the USPS. The results revealed a significant disconnect between the agency’s national performance claims and the reality on the ground in South Dakota:

·        Survey Volume: Over 4,200 South Dakotans responded to the inquiry.

·        Service Ratings: More than 50% of respondents described their mail service as “poor” or “very poor.”

·        Personal Impact: Over 3,000 individuals provided specific testimonials regarding delivery failures.

“The data shows USPS service performance data has trended downward in every measurable category for every type of postage for the last four years,” Johnson noted.

He highlighted the case of a Faulkton resident who incurred a $2,700 late fee after a check took 25 days to reach Sioux Falls, and another instance in which a holiday package traveled through nine states before arriving 10 days late in Huron.

Leadership Under Fire

While Johnson expressed gratitude for frontline postal carriers, he placed the blame for systemic issues squarely on regional and national leadership. He noted that despite an invitation, the USPS declined to attend the Sioux Falls roundtable.

“It’s clear the issue with the Postal Service is often not with the individual carriers who deliver the mail,” Johnson stated. “The issue is mostly with the Postal Service leadership, whose decisions have decreased the quality of service.”

Congressman Sessions, whose subcommittee oversees the USPS, pledged to continue investigating the agency’s operations in rural America. Johnson indicated that a full report detailing the impact of these service decisions will be sent to the Postmaster General.

The July Deadline

Steiner, who took over as Postmaster General in July 2025, is now officially “on the clock,” according to the South Dakota representative. Johnson acknowledged that while Steiner inherited a difficult situation, the grace period for administrative transition is ending.

“One year on the job should’ve been enough to show real and meaningful improvement and a real plan on the path forward,” Johnson said. “And Mr. Steiner, if we don’t have meaningful improvement by July of 2026, I’m calling for your resignation.”