9th District Congressman Clyde Demands Investigation, Audit into USPS Distribution Center Debacle

US 9th District Congressman Andrew Clyde is calling for an investigation and audit by the US Postal Service into what he calls the “failed transition and consolidation from local processing and distribution centers across North Georgia to the postal services’ new consolidated Atlanta Ga. Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto, GA initiated earlier this year.”

In February, the USPS consolidated the Atlanta, North Metro, Augusta, and Macon distribution centers to the new Atlanta Regional Processing & Distribution Center in Palmetto.

Since then, the consolidation has caused letters and packages to be delayed and even lost with consumers complaining they have not received important mail in a timely manner, if at all.

Additionally, many North Georgia voters who opted to use an absentee paper ballot for the Presidential Preference Primary never received their ballot and were not able to vote.

In Franklin County, Election Supervisor Tracie Creason said over 20 voters did not receive their requested absentee ballots until after March 12, the day of the Presidential Preference Primary.

Clyde’s letter, dated April 4, references the Postal Services’ “poor planning” for the transition and states that the result has “excessively disrupted mail delivery operations, causing my constituents immense trouble and grief in their daily lives.

“Since the transition and consolidation of processing and distribution activities from local PDCs across North Georgia into the Palmetto facility on February 24, 2024, my office has received a nearly 90% increase in email and phone call messages from residents of North Georgia about USPS mail and package delays happening in the region. News reports detail how dozens of mail trucks have had to wait outside the new Palmetto facility. These mail trucks have led to obstructed traffic and led to traffic delays which has caused the Palmetto police to get involved.”

One resident in North Georgia told Clyde’s office that costly late fees are being assessed on their bills and their business’ “credit reputation” is in jeopardy due to checks sent through USPS in the mail arriving at their destination more than a month late.

Another rural resident told Clyde’s office she has not gotten her much-needed medications in the mail on time since the transition to the Palmetto facility.

In his letter, Congressman Clyde is asking the USPS Office of Inspector General to audit and investigate what he calls thoroughly, “the disastrous situation currently unfolding in North Georgia” and provide a preliminary response within 30 days.

He is also demanding the Office of Inspector General provide updates on the audit and investigation every three months on the progress, findings, or preliminary conclusions.

Finally, Clyde is demanding the Inspector General publish a final report detailing their findings and conclusions in a briefing to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Appropriations.