Members of Congress Urge U.S. Postal Service to Reconsider Hampden Mail Processing Operations Move

Members of Congress Oppose USPS Plan to Move Mail Processing Operations from Hampden to Southern Maine

A controversial decision by the U.S. Postal Service to relocate some mail processing operations from Hampden to southern Maine has sparked opposition from twenty-two members of Congress. Senators Susan Collins and Joe Manchin, along with other lawmakers, penned a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing their disagreement with the move.

The decision to shift operations from the Hampden facility to a processing center in Scarborough is part of a larger 10-year plan aimed at addressing significant financial losses projected by the Postal Service. However, concerns have been raised about the impact on jobs and service efficiency, particularly in rural areas of Maine.

One striking example highlighted by lawmakers is the inefficient routing of mail from Fort Kent to Wallagrass, where the letter travels a total of 322 miles to be delivered. Critics argue that such consolidation efforts lack local support and fail to address the needs of communities and postal employees.

In response to the outcry, Representatives Jared Golden and August Pfluger have introduced legislation to halt nationwide facility consolidations and mandate regulatory oversight of future plans. The pushback from Congress underscores the importance of engaging with local stakeholders and providing transparent justifications for operational changes.

As the debate over the USPS consolidation plan continues, it remains to be seen how the Postal Service will address the concerns raised by lawmakers and communities affected by the proposed relocation.