Full Breakdown
Trump’s Mail-Voting Order Tests USPS Leader David Steiner
By Drooid · · How we work
The Rule-making Push and Supreme Court Rejection
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March directing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to require election officials to attach an individualized “Intelligent Mail” barcode to every ballot envelope and to provide a continuously updated list of voters eligible for mail ballots. The USPS published a proposed rule in May and a final rule three months later. After the rule was finalized, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay an injunction that barred the Postal Service from enforcing most of the new provisions for the November 2026 election, effectively nullifying the order’s impact.
Background: Trump’s Executive Order and USPS Role
The order sought to give the Postal Service a greater role in absentee-voting logistics, a move critics say expands executive influence over election administration. Legal scholars note that the Administrative Procedure Act permits challenges only to “final agency action,” a point the Supreme Court emphasized in *Trump v. California* when it held that plaintiffs could not contest the policy before the final rule was issued. The court later applied the Purcell principle, cautioning against last-minute judicial interference with election rules.
Data & Statistics
Official Statements & Responses
Steiner said the agency halted work on the voter-roll portal after the Supreme Court rejected the effort. Brad Martin, former FedEx board chairman, characterized Steiner as “outcome oriented” and asserted, “He’s going to follow the rules. He’s going to follow the law.”
Criticism & Opposition
- Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called Steiner a “Trump lackey.”
- Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar urged Congress to station observers to ensure uninterrupted scanning of mail-ballot envelopes.
- Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) labeled Steiner a Trump “pawn.”
- Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) demanded Steiner’s resignation and introduced legislation to block his eligibility for a performance bonus.
On-the-Ground Reports
A whistleblower report cited by Senator Richard Blumenthal described the voter-roll portal as hastily built and riddled with errors, while Steiner expressed confidence that the system could have been launched around mid-September. He also emphasized to voters that timely ballot submission—ideally a week before Election Day—remains essential to avoid late-postmark rejections.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Legal analysts note a tension between the Supreme Court’s earlier decision that the rule was not ripe for review and its later refusal to stay the injunction, leaving unclear how courts will balance ripeness, finality, and the Purcell principle in future election-related challenges. While Steiner asserts limited involvement in the rule’s development, the whistleblower’s allegations suggest a gap in transparent oversight of the rule-making process.