As it has in the past, the US Postal Service Board of Governors will delegate its powers to a “Temporary Emergency Committee” in order to get around the lack of a quorum now that Deputy PMG Ron Stroman has announced his resignation.

Stroman’s departure leaves a pro-Trump majority on the Board, which can now select a pro-Trump Deputy PMG. Since the Deputy is a member of the board ex officio, the naming of a new DPMG will restore the BOG’s quorum, and therefore eliminate the need for continued use of the “Temporary Emergency Committee” charade.

The USPS included this statement in its Form 8-K notification to the Postal Regulatory Commission of Stroman’s departure:

Upon Mr. Stroman’s departure on June 1, 2020 from his position as the Deputy Postmaster General, the Board of Governors will no longer have a quorum as set forth in 39 U.S.C. Section 205(c), but the powers needed to provide for continuity of operations will be delegated by virtue of a prior resolution of the Board to a Temporary Emergency Committee composed of the remaining members of the Board.

Further, a quorum of the Board can be restored by the appointment of a new Deputy Postmaster General by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board pursuant to 39 U.S.C. Section 205(c)(2).

Outgoing Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan released the following statement:

After 42 years of public service and 9 years of significant contributions to the United States Postal Service, Deputy Postmaster General & Chief Government Relations Officer Ronald (Ron) A. Stroman has notified the Chairman of our Board of Governors and me of his intention to resign effective June 1. Ron’s leadership, advocacy for our organization, wise counsel, and commitment to his colleagues and the men and women of the Postal Service will be missed.

As the 20th Deputy Postmaster General and the highest ranking African American in the history of the Postal Service, Ron serves on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team Ron has led our communications and relationship-building with the Congress and among agencies at the federal, state, and local level, as well as efforts to educate postal stakeholders as we developed a framework for postal reform legislation. He directs all functions of Government Relations and Public Policy, International Postal Affairs, Sustainability, and the Judicial Office Department.

Ron led our successful coordination with the Administration and Department of State, to negotiate profitable rates for the international exchange of small packets which enabled us to remain in the Universal Postal Union. Ron played a vital role coordinating intergovernmental strategy to accelerate the United States receipt of critical advance electronic data for international inbound packages, helping law enforcement agencies to detect illicit drugs. He also spearheaded our Election and Political Mail strategic outreach to support state and local election officials as the use of vote-by-mail increased over the past five years. Ron also ensured we remained committed to being a sustainable leader by building on our culture of conservation.

Prior to joining the Postal Service, Ron held a number of prominent positions in the legislative and executive branches. Before becoming Deputy Postmaster General, he served as Staff Director for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Ron had previously served as Managing Director for the Office of Opportunity and Inclusiveness for the General Accounting Office and was a Director with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Ron’s deep experience in the House of Representatives includes staff roles on the Committee on Government Operations, as Minority Staff Director and Counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and as Counsel on the House Judiciary Committee. Ron began his career as an attorney with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Please join me in congratulating Ron on his exemplary career of public service and for his many contributions to the Postal Service, and in wishing him good health, happiness, and success in all of his future endeavors.

Megan J. Brennan