Summary

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on how the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) plans to use a contractor to help screen job applicants and determine their suitability for postal employment. GAO found that: (1) USPS believes the contract award and other actions will improve the screening process; (2) the contract requires that background checks be done at the request of USPS officials for approximately 175,000 applicants each year; (3) USPS needs criminal conviction records, employment histories, and any pertinent driving records for all job applicants; (4) background checks are done with cooperation from former employers as well as law enforcement agencies and state departments of motor vehicles; (5) USPS has been ineffective at screening job applicants; (6) the Postal Inspection Service recommended that USPS strengthen applicant screening procedures after investigations into the shooting incidents at three USPS facilities; and (7) USPS said it would take steps to improve its compliance with existing screening requirements.