Trump administration actions on USPS and election policy

The Trump administration has initiated several actions aimed at reshaping the United States Postal Service (USPS) and election administration. Initially, the administration moved to appoint four Republicans to the USPS Board of Governors, breaking bipartisan tradition. Three of these nominees have expressed skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the 2020 election and the security of mail-in voting. Following these appointments, the administration issued executive orders targeting mail-in ballots. Supported by a Supreme Court ruling via the shadow docket, an order directs the Department of Homeland Security to demand voter rolls from states. The USPS has been instructed to refuse the delivery of mail ballots in any state that does not comply with these demands. As the U.S. midterm elections approach, these disputes have intensified. An executive order signed in March directs state authorities to upload voter data to a federal website. This order tasks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) with verifying the American citizenship of voters to compile a federal list of those eligible for mail-in voting. The USPS has been instructed to refuse the delivery of mail-in ballots to individuals not included on this federal list. These measures have triggered significant legal challenges regarding the core of American democratic processes. Most recently, the administration has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked these stricter regulations. The administration is seeking an emergency decision as mail-in ballots in North Carolina are scheduled to begin shipping. The proposed rules would also require states to submit mail-in envelope designs for USPS approval. While Republicans argue these measures prevent fraud, critics and a federal judge have suggested the rules may be unconstitutional and intended to disadvantage Democratic voters.