The United States Postal Service is pausing a plan to downgrade several mail processing centers, including facilities in Huron and Sioux Falls.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the move to shift operations is on hold until at least Jan. 1, 2025.
That comes in response to a bipartisan letter sent by 26 lawmakers – including Sen. Mike Rounds – urging the USPS to halt the plan and allow time to study its impact on mail service.
Rounds applauded the pause, calling it a “step in the right direction to protecting rural mail services across our state.”
Great news: I’m pleased to see that the postal service is pausing the downsizing of mail processing facilities in SD following concerns and my subsequent letter to Postmaster Louis DeJoy. This is a step in the right direction to protecting rural mail services across our state.
— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) May 13, 2024
Under the USPS proposal, non-local operations in Huron would shift to Fargo, while non-local operations in Sioux Falls would shift to Omaha. Both facilities would remain open, but dozens of jobs would transfer to the other cities.
A spokesperson for Rounds' office confirmed the halt applied to both the Huron and Sioux Falls facilities.
In a statement responding to the senators' letter, DeJoy reiterated the USPS must make changes to remain financially viable, noting that downgrading the facilities in question would save between $133 million to $177 million annually.