TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
June 25 , 2026
Washington, D.C. — In a dramatic congressional hearing on Tuesday, the Postmaster General testified that the United States Postal Service (USPS) would destroy any mail-in ballots collected by postal workers, a statement that drew swift criticism from lawmakers, election officials, and voting-rights organizations across the political spectrum.
Appearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, the Postmaster General David Steiner said the policy decision followed what he described as "direction from the White House" to address concerns about election administration and voter confidence.
"The Postal Service has been instructed that any ballots collected outside designated election channels will be destroyed rather than processed," the Postmaster General told members of Congress. "We believe this approach complies with the guidance we have received."
The remarks immediately prompted sharp questioning from lawmakers. Several committee members challenged both the legality and constitutionality of such a policy, arguing that federal law generally requires the Postal Service to handle properly mailed election materials.
Administration officials quickly disputed aspects of the testimony. In a statement released shortly after the hearing, a White House spokesperson said the administration had "never directed the destruction of legally cast ballots" and maintained that election administration remains primarily the responsibility of state and local authorities.
Election officials from multiple states expressed alarm at the testimony. Several secretaries of state announced they were seeking clarification from federal authorities regarding how any such policy would be implemented and whether it could affect upcoming elections.
Legal experts interviewed after the hearing said the proposal would almost certainly face immediate court challenges. Some suggested federal judges could issue emergency orders blocking any effort to destroy election materials transmitted through the mail.
As of Tuesday evening, USPS had not released written guidance detailing the reported ballot-destruction policy. The controversy is expected to intensify in the coming days as congressional investigators, election administrators, and federal courts examine the claims made during the hearing.
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