{"id":15908,"date":"2020-09-28T22:35:09","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T22:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/28\/us-judge-orders-stop-to-postal-service-cuts-echoing-others\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:40:58","slug":"us-judge-orders-stop-to-postal-service-cuts-echoing-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/congress\/2020\/09\/28\/us-judge-orders-stop-to-postal-service-cuts-echoing-others\/","title":{"rendered":"US judge orders stop to Postal Service cuts, echoing others"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PHILADELPHIA \u2014 A federal judge in Philadelphia joined others Monday in ordering a halt to recent Postal Service cuts that critics say are causing mail delays and threatening the integrity of the presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six states and the District of Columbia presented \u201ccompelling evidence\u201d from the U.S. Postal Service itself that shows \u201ca pronounced increase in mail delays across the country\u201d since July, the judge found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a pandemic, states are even more reliant on the mail, especially when it comes to administering elections,\u201d U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh Jr. wrote in granting a preliminary injunction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postal Service officials have previously said they would consider their legal options as injunctions were issued. Spokesperson David A. Partenheimer said the agency did not have an immediate response Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postal Service officials say new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy <\/a>never ordered a slowdown or overtime ban. However, their lawyers conceded in court last week that local managers may have interpreted the guidance<\/a> from Washington that way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of that lack of clarity, McHugh said, a national injunction<\/a> that echoes three others issued this month was necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\t