Postal Service chief says work stopped on computer system key to Trump effort to limit mail voting

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top official at the U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that the agency has stopped work on developing a controversial computer system that was central to President Donald Trump’s effort to limit mail voting after the Supreme Court rejected his executive order this week.

“There’s an injunction so we’re not doing anything,” postmaster general David Steiner told The Associated Press in an interview.

Steiner, a onetime chief executive of Waste Management, has spent most of the past year atop the postal service navigating political and financial challenges. He’s pressing Congress for changes that would help him resolve what he has called a “liquidity crisis.”

And Trump’s efforts to largely eradicate mail voting turned the postal service into an unlikely arbiter of who is eligible to vote just months before this year’s critical midterm elections, a role Steiner seemingly had little interest in playing. Unlike Trump, who was sharply critical of the Supreme Court decision and ridiculed some of the justices, Steiner offered no assessment of the court’s action.

Steiner also declined to take a position on Trump’s policy, presenting himself as the leader of an “independent agency of the executive branch” whose influence over the president’s order was limited to operational concerns.

“I don’t get to decide what rules that are put on us that I decide to accept or not accept,” he said. “I looked at it more from the execution side.”

The postal service has asserted its independence in the past, including during a 2019 standoff when the first Trump administration sought to pressure the agency as the president was in a dispute with Amazon. Steiner said he wouldn’t get into the “nuance” of that.

But the pressure has grown so intense at points that it’s fueled talk of whether Steiner might resign, a notion he denied.

“There’s no truth to that,” he said. “I think I know the motivation behind it. I think it’s somebody that would like to see me out of a job.”

The executive order Trump signed in March directed several federal agencies to develop state citizenship lists. Those lists would have been delivered to an online portal at the Postal Service, which would have been allowed to send mail ballots only to voters who were cleared through the process. Steiner said he knew about the order about a month before it was unveiled but said his focus was largely on implementation, not the policy’s merits.

A whistleblower report released earlier this month by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued the system was hastily built and riddled with errors.

Steiner said he read “portions” of the whistleblower report and acknowledged the obstacles associated with building such a massive platform quickly. Still, he said he had confidence in colleagues working on the project and had planned to unveil it around Sept. 15.

“There’s absolutely no doubt that we worked fast,” he said. “My personal opinion is it was a monumental task and I’m very proud of our IT department for being able to do it that fast.”

In addition to the voter list, Trump’s order would have required states to adopt a uniform envelope style that included barcodes, something states said would have been arduous so close to the election.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, a memo sent to all postal service employees Wednesday and obtained by the AP said the agency will “not be enforcing any of these new rules in the 2026 federal election.”

“First and foremost, for Election Mail it is business as usual,” according to the memo. “We continue to follow established protocols, and we remain entirely focused on our core mission: delivering the mail safely and securely for voters and election officials across the country.”

Though the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s executive order for this year’s election, Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated he might rule in favor of the administration if the issue comes back before the court at a later time.

Steiner said the postal service would still encourage the use of envelopes and barcodes in future elections, which it has long recommended. He said such changes wouldn’t be required but those who don’t comply may have to pay more.

“If you use the barcode in the envelope, we’ll charge you a lower price,” he said. “If you don’t, we’re going to charge you a higher price because it’s harder for us to process.”

While the postal service isn’t moving forward on Trump’s order, there are still concerns about postmark delays that could have an impact on this year’s elections. The number of ballots rejected for late postmarks has soared in the vote-by-mail states of Washington and Oregon, according to recently released data highlighting concerns about recent changes in postal service operations.

Steiner said there were no plans to alter those operations and encouraged voters who use mail to get their ballots in early.

“We say seven days,” he said. “Everything is solved if people vote early.”

Postmaster General David Steiner speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the United States Postal Service headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Postmaster General David Steiner speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the United States Postal Service headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Postmaster General David Steiner poses for a photograph at the United States Postal Service headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Postmaster General David Steiner speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the United States Postal Service headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive NL West title and 13th in the past 14 seasons with an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.

“It’s a big deal,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think that a lot of people think that it’s just a rite of passage (but) it's not easy. So it’s something that we’re all really proud of, but really understand that’s not the end goal.”

The Dodgers (93-60) are in the postseason for the 14th consecutive season, tying the Atlanta Braves’ record from 1991-2005.

“It’s step one,” Mookie Betts said, rubbing the bubbly from his eyes. “We’ve got a long way to go.”

The on-field celebration was muted following the final out on Thursday, but players let loose in the clubhouse where sparkling wine and beer was sprayed from the floor to the ceiling.

“I think it's one of those things where in baseball you play every day, and guys focus on performing,” Roberts said. “So there's not a lot of moments to celebrate. So it's nice to see the guys let loose a little bit.”

Despite all of their success, the players believe they still have something to prove.

The Dodgers shattered Major League Baseball’s spending record last year with a combined $515 million in payroll, leading to suggestions they have an unfair advantage.

“What we're creating here is special,” Max Muncy said. “It definitely doesn't get enough credit. Everyone points to the payroll, but we don't ever talk about how we do things the right way, how we prepare the right way, how we do all those little things. That doesn't get talked about.”

The two-time defending World Series champions are still chasing the NL's top seed, currently held by the Milwaukee Brewers. Los Angeles has a four-game lead over the Braves (89-64) for the second seed but trails the Brewers (95-58) by two games.

“We're still trying to get one of those top two seeds,” Roberts said. “I think we do a great job of celebrating, but not having it carry over. We have to get on the flight and play the Giants tomorrow.”

The Dodgers are looking to become the first team to capture three consecutive World Series championships since the Yankees did it from 1998 to 2000.

It’s the Dodgers’ fourth-earliest division clinching. They clinched the NL West on Sept. 10 in 2019, Sept. 13 in 2022 and Sept. 16 in 2023.

LA will use that time to try getting healthy. That starts with Shohei Ohtani.

The four-time MVP has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 8 with right biceps inflammation and told reporters earlier this month he is done pitching for the season. The two-way star took swings off a tee for the first time Tuesday and felt good. He's expected to return as a hitter before the end of the regular season, although it's unclear if he can get 100% healthy before October.

Roki Sasaki, on the IL with a blister on his middle finger, threw live BP on Wednesday in Cincinnati and it went well. Roberts said his next outing will be a start.

Blake Snell left Wednesday's start after one inning with left groin tightness. His status is uncertain.

Closer Edwin Diaz, who's been on the IL since August with neck inflammation, is expected to be activated Friday. Setup man Edgardo Henriquez is on the IL with lower back discomfort. He had an MRI in Los Angeles on Wednesday which revealed a low back strain and his rehab will be paused for a few days.

The Dodgers made the biggest splash of the trade deadline when they acquired two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Tigers. Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in eight starts for the Dodgers.

The addition of Skubal made the Dodgers the odds-on favorites to win the World Series. After going 61-36 to start the season, the Dodgers are 32-24 since the All-Star break.

“I spoke to the guys and just really lauded them,” Roberts said. “For the fact, I think that we're the most talented team, the smartest team, the toughest team, and to enjoy this.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith celebrates in the locker room after the Dodgers clinch the playoffs during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas (72) walks back to the dugout after the team clinched their fifth consecutive NL West division title after a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a team photo after they clinched the playoffs after a win against the Cincinnati Reds during a baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández, right, celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after the team clinched their fifth consecutive NL West division title after a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)

Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández (37) celebrates in the locker room after the Dodgers clinch the playoffs during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tanner Pearson)