RELEASE: Reps. Friedman, Chu Urge Post Office to Combat Ongoing Delays from Wildfires

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, January 22, 2025, U.S. Representatives Laura Friedman (CA-30) and Judy Chu (CA- 28) urged Postmaster General DeJoy to send additional resources for Los Angeles area post offices to address ongoing delays and better support constituents. Ongoing delays have added barriers to rebuilding and force residents to face delays in receiving important resources including drivers’ licenses, documents, prescription medications, and other essentials. 

“Those who are already facing great loss should not be met with additional barriers as they try to rebuild their lives. These wildfires have caused heartbreaking loss for Californians, and we urge you to assist our communities in recovering as quickly as possible,” wrote Representatives Laura Friedman and Judy Chu (CA- 28) to Postmaster DeJoy. “We respectfully request that you allocate additional resources and increase staffing to U.S. Postal Service operations in the greater Los Angeles region to mitigate delays and assist our postal workers in serving our communities effectively.” 

Currently, four post offices are being rerouted which has caused delays and long lines that take hours to get everything from drivers’ licenses, important documents, prescription medications, and other essentials. This is unacceptable.   

Full text of the letter sent to Postmaster DeJoy can be found here and below:

January 22, 2025 

The Honorable Louis DeJoy 

Postmaster General 

United States Postal Service 

475 L'Enfant Plaza SW 

Washington, DC 20260   

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy,  

As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles County, we are writing to respectfully request additional resources for Los Angeles area post offices to address ongoing delays and better support our constituents. Timely mail delivery is essential for our constituents’ recovery and rebuilding efforts. Since January 7, 2025, several wildfires in the greater Los Angeles region have destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, displaced tens of thousands of residents, and tragically taken at least 27 lives. Thousands of people remain under evacuation orders and cannot return to their homes.   

Currently, four postal offices that provide retail and delivery services are being rerouted to temporary locations. This has resulted in postal offices being overwhelmed as they are not equipped to handle the magnitude of rerouted mail. Impacted residents now face delays in receiving their deliveries and long lines at post offices that can take hours just to get important things like drivers’ licenses, important documents, prescription medications, and other essentials.  

Those who are already facing great loss should not be met with additional barriers as they try to rebuild their lives. These wildfires have caused heartbreaking loss for Californians, and we urge you to assist our communities in recovering as quickly as possible. We respectfully request that you allocate additional resources and increase staffing to U.S. Postal Service operations in the greater Los Angeles region to mitigate delays and assist our postal workers in serving our communities effectively.  

Thank you for your consideration of this request and for your assistance in addressing this issue as quickly as possible. 

Sincerely,  

SIGNED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 

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