Sen. Jon Ossoff demands answers for mail delays affecting Georgia veterans

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) questions U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2022. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Sen. Jon Ossoff is demanding answers into possible mail delays affecting Georgia veterans.
On Friday, Ossoff's office announced that the senator was launching an inquiry with the U.S. Postmaster General after he received reports that veterans were receiving late prescriptions delayed by the mail.
Ossoff also said he heard from veterans who received appointment notices after the date the appointment was scheduled.
"In addition to issues with receiving prescription medications over the mail, I have heard from constituents that notices for Veterans Affairs claim exams are not being delivered in a timely manner," Ossoff wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. "These notices with time-sensitive information, such as appointment information, must be delivered on time."
MORE: Georgia mail delays: Ossoff, Dejoy tangle during Senate hearing
In 2024, Georgia's mail delivery performance came under fire when on-time delivery rates plummeted following the consolidation of operations at the Palmetto facility. While USPS officials initially assured improvements within 60 days, delays persisted. Metro Atlanta has been one of the hardest hit when it comes to delivery issues. Officials reported that mail was delivered on time just 36% of the time, but say that things have finally improved.
According to USPS data, about 75% of first-class mail in metro Atlanta was being delivered on time in November.
Ossoff has been extremely critical of how DeJoy and the United States Postal Service handled the delays, calling out DeJoy for poor management as employees from across the state had to move to the Palmetto location.
Dejoy to Ossoff: 'You think I'm a failure, fine. I don't'
The United States Postmaster General faced tough questions as multiple senators let him have it as delivery delays continue around the country including here in Georgia. The hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee came months after the last one where postal officials admitted that a vast majority of mail isn’t arriving on time in the Atlanta area after a new facility went online this year.
"Access to medical information in a timely manner is vital for the wellbeing and health of all veterans who have served our nation," Ossoff wrote in his letter. "I urge you to investigate these issues specific to veterans’ healthcare.
In September, Ossoff introduced new legislation that would require the U.S. Senate to confirm a president’s appointment to the role. Right now, the position is appointed by the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors without confirmation from Congress. The legislation would also allow postmaster generals to stay in office for a maximum of two five-year terms. The position currently has no term limits.
Dig deeper:
- Ossoff: 'Further improvements' needed for Georgia's mail delays
- Mail delays: Deadline approaches for DeJoy to respond to Ossoff
- Ossoff: 'Further improvements' needed for Georgia's mail delays
- Georgia ranked worst state for mail service by USPS at end of Q2
- Ossoff calls on USPS Inspector General to investigate statewide mail disruptions in Georgia
The Source: Information for this story was taken from a letter from Sen. Jon Ossoff to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and previous FOX 5 reporting.