US Postal Service board chair expected to be replaced by Biden

President BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrats push vote on social spending plan to Friday Fauci says all adults should ‘go get boosted’ Senate confirms Park Service director after years of acting heads MORE is expected to make an announcement on Friday that Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Ron Bloom, whose term expires in December, will not be renominated, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper, who spoke to three people familiar with the matter, reported that it signaled an uncertain future for Postmaster General Louis DeJoyLouis DeJoyPostal Service loss nearly halved DeJoy: Postal Service to add 45 facilities ahead of holiday season America is not delivering MORE, of whom Bloom is an ally and who has been viewed less favorably by Democrats and the White House.

It was not immediately clear who might be nominated to replace Bloom, who is a Democrat.

Bloom was elected chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors earlier this year after previously being appointed to the board in 2019 by former President TrumpDonald TrumpGOP Senate candidate says Fauci is ‘mass murderer,’ should be jailed rather than ‘hero’ Rittenhouse Overnight Health Care — Presented by Emergent Biosolutions — Pfizer, US strike COVID-19 pill deal On The Money — House Democrats ready to Build Back Better MORE.

Previously, he served as assistant to the president on manufacturing policy under the Obama administration.

Only the Board of Governors has the ability to remove DeJoy from his position, and the decision to not re-nominate Bloom could be a step in the direction toward shoring up enough votes to oust the postmaster general, according to the Post. 

DeJoy has received calls to leave his post, especially as some voiced concerns that issues at the agency could affect the delivery of larger numbers of mail-in ballots, driven in part by the pandemic.  

White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiOn The Money — House Democrats ready to Build Back Better Harris’s communications director to depart next month White House tells businesses to move forward with vaccine mandate MORE did not directly answer a question in February regarding whether the White House was looking to have the postmaster general replaced but seemed to acknowledge the point. 

“I think the president is certainly familiar with the process,” she said at the time. “He believes the leadership can do better, and we are eager to have the board of governors in place.”

The Hill has reached out to the White House and Postal Service for comment.

Updated at 9:05 a.m.