No Consulting for Postal Execs

The Washington Post reports today that Postmaster General Marvin Runyon has issued a memorandum severely limiting the circumstances under which retiring postal executives can return to USPS as consultants.

Under the new policy, postal executives cannot be rehired by the agency under consulting contracts for five years following their retirement.

"This policy is required because often the contract compensation, in addition to an individual's annuity, may be viewed as excessive and therefore not appropriate for an agency serving the public," Runyon wrote in his memo.

There is a loophole in the new policy, the Post reported. USPS may directly rehire former employees who have retired with an annuity, provided their combined retirement pay and active pay is not greater than the salary for the position they are filling.