At least one Republican senator on Thursday spoke out against the president’s opposition to funding for the agency. Collins told the Portland Press Herald that even before his remarks, she sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy demanding an explanation for the service cuts she’s been hearing about in her state.

“And so I do disagree with the president, very strongly, on that issue,” said Collins, who is facing a tough reelection bid. “The Postal Service is absolutely essential, particularly to a large, rural state like ours.”…

The administration, led by Mnuchin, began courting DeJoy, a billionaire and Trump donor, long before the pandemic began, but since his installment he has become a central figure in the election controversy, ushering in dramatic changes within the Postal Service, banning overtime and shuffling seasoned executives as well as sorting equipment. The changes have already prompted reports of delays along with worries about the potential impact on voting.

DeJoy, a longtime GOP fundraiser, is in frequent contact with top Republican Party officials and met with the president in the Oval Office last week in advance of a tense meeting that DeJoy had with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), according to people with knowledge of recent events who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.