Postal service says it is ready for holiday season

After a tumultuous year of criticism from Georgia officials, the U.S. Postal Service says it is ready for the holiday season.

An audit of the postal services' move to a new distribution facility revealed a host of problems, including inadequate staffing, a lack of management oversight and poor planning for routes.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, R-Ga., called the postal service's performance "abysmal" when introducing the Postmaster General Reform Act. He cited missed IRS deadlines due to postal delays and mail from the Fulton County Clerk's Office that never made it to its destination.

“This is about whether seniors are receiving their medication in the mail, whether citizens are receiving vital notices from the court, and whether small businesses can function," Ossoff said. "High-quality postal service can’t be a luxury; it is a necessity, and we see the importance now of holding the Postmaster General accountable to the elected representatives of the people in the U.S. Senate."

The bill requires the postmaster general to receive Senate confirmation and creates a service limit of two five-year terms.

The Center Square reached out to Georgia postal officials about what Georgians could expect as they send holiday cards and packages. The postal service responded with a news release outlining changes made prior to its busiest season.

The changes include revitalizing the postal service's sorting and delivery centers and adding 506 new package sorting machines. An additional 7,500 employees were hired for the holiday season, according to the release.

“Thanks to the substantial progress we have made under the Delivery for America plan, we are ready and confident to handle the holiday surge,” said USPS Chief Retail and Delivery Officer and Executive Vice President Dr. Joshua Colin. “Our ability to move packages and mail throughout our network has never been stronger. USPS continues to be the most affordable and reliable way to ship packages and mail this holiday season and year-round.”

The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Ossify prior to publication.