AG Blanche Says DOJ Will Comply With SCOTUS Mail-Ballot Ruling; Steiner Earlier Confirmed Refuse-to-Deliver Policy (2026-09-15)

At a rare White House Rose Garden briefing the day after the Supreme Court's 7-2 rejection of the USPS mail-ballot scheme, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche pledged the administration would comply: "Of course, we're going to comply with the Supreme Court's decision, as we always do. That doesn't mean that we're not going to do everything in this administration that we can to make sure that there are free and fair elections." Blanche — who became acting AG after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April 2026 — said the ruling would not affect ongoing criminal investigations into alleged unlawful voting, and signaled the administration would revive the legal fight in future election cycles. Asked about Trump's Truth Social attack on the justices who ruled against him, Blanche defended the president: "He is very frustrated. He has every right and, indeed, he should communicate his concerns with the Supreme Court whenever he has them. This isn't the first time that he's done it, and it won't be the last."

Postmaster General David Steiner — who replaced Louis DeJoy after DeJoy's March 2025 departure under White House pressure following his refusal to grant DOGE officials access to Postal Service systems — had earlier confirmed to lawmakers in June that USPS would not deliver mail-in ballots in states refusing to hand over voter data, calling it necessary to ensure the "right ballots are going to the right people." In September, Steiner told Congress USPS was "prepared for a flood of mail-in ballots" even as election officials nationwide warned of persistent delivery delays and inadequate preparation. The American Postal Workers Union separately sounded the alarm about substandard performance and understaffing ahead of the election.