Two prominent lawmakers are introducing the “Return to Sender Act” to rescind $3 billion allocated under the previous administration’s Inflation Reduction Act for the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) electric vehicle (EV) initiative. This move comes amid concerns over production delays and escalating costs associated with the program.
The USPS had contracted defense manufacturer Oshkosh to produce 50,000 EV delivery trucks within three years. However, by November, only 93 vehicles had been delivered, prompting scrutiny over the project’s efficiency and management.
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), chair of the Deficit Oversight and Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, criticized the program, stating, “Biden’s EV postal fleet is lost in the mail. The order needs to be canceled with the unspent money returned to sender, the taxpayers. I am defunding this billion-dollar boondoggle to stamp out waste in Washington. Tax dollars should always be treated with first-class priority.”
Representative Michael Cloud (R-TX) echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the Inflation Reduction Act has funneled billions into a USPS EV project that has delivered delays, defective trucks, and rising costs. He advocates for reclaiming the $3 billion in taxpayer money allocated to the project.
The Washington Post reported that Oshkosh’s CEO expressed satisfaction with the project’s status, stating the company is “really happy where we are.” However, internal sources revealed challenges, with one individual commenting, “We don’t know how to build a damn truck.”
The “Return to Sender Act” aims to rescind unobligated funds from the Inflation Reduction Act designated for the USPS EV program. This legislative effort underscores the growing concern over government expenditure on projects with questionable outcomes.
A USPS spokesperson defended the initiative, stating that fleet modernization is central to their “Delivering for America” plan. They reiterated the commitment to environmentally sustainable vehicles, aligning with financial and operational considerations, and affirmed that deliveries of new vehicles remain on schedule.
As the “Return to Sender Act” progresses, it will serve as a focal point for discussions on fiscal responsibility and the role of oversight in government-funded initiatives.
