Wyoming delegation letter presses Postmaster General on potential processing center closures

CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming’s delegation issued a letter expressing its opposition to proposed changes to processing and distribution centers in Casper and Cheyenne.

The letter — signed by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, and addressed to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy — expressed the concern of constituents over the future of Wyoming’s mail operations if proposed changes are implemented.

The concern comes after the USPS said in November 2023 that it was initiating a review of the Cheyenne Processing and Distribution Center, which would lead to “some mail processing operations” being shifted to a Denver facility. Since then, the USPS announced a similar plan for Casper, which would shift some operations to Billings.

“Since the initial findings of the review were released, the amount of information provided by the USPS, including the duration of the review, whether the initial findings have shifted, and an estimated timeline for the decision, among other critical details, have been withheld,” the letter said. “This is particularly perturbing as the impact of these decisions will have on integrity of Wyoming’s mail operations, in addition to the livelihoods of those who carry out these responsibilities, will be significant.”

The letter goes on to say that “Wyoming is likely one of the few states that will ultimately be losing the bulk, if not all, of its mail processing capabilities.”

The potential delays in mail distribution would ultimately undermine Wyoming’s electoral process when it comes to mail-in ballots and ballot-counting operations, they added.

“This is simply not acceptable, and stripping Wyoming of these processing service places our state’s operation on an unequal footing compared to other states.”

The letter asks for a meeting to address concerns with DeJoy, who was appointed to the position by President Trump in May 2020.

A meeting open to the public for input will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Center Inn, 1150 N. Poplar St. in Casper. The online public comment for Casper’s facility is still open through March 7.

In a statement issued by the USPS on Feb. 6, the organization says the study and proposal to move Casper’s mail processing is part of a 10-year Delivering for America, or DFA, plan aimed at improving logistics and efficiency. “This specific facility review will inform the best allocation of resources and strategies to improve customer service and achieve significant cost savings through operational precision and efficiency,” the statement said.