SUFFOLK, Va. — An audit conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) reported numerous deficiencies at the Suffolk Post Office, prompting a local representative to call for reforms.
The audit was conducted during the week of Feb. 9, 2026, focusing on four delivery units in Virginia, with three in Hampton Roads: The Norfolk Sorting and Delivery Center, the Suffolk Post Office and the Virginia Beach Post Office. All of these branches had delayed mail as a reported deficiency.
According to the USPS OIG audit, 26,430 delayed pieces of mail were identified at the Suffolk Post Office. 17,564 letters, 8,840 flats and 26 packages comprised the delayed pieces of mail at the Suffolk facility.
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USPS audit: Mail delays, improper property conditions at local post offices
The new audit reveals why residents in the Hollywood community experienced delays firsthand. Eloise Cheeks has called the neighborhood home since 1999. When I first spoke with her in October 2025, her mail was arriving late, if at all.
We interviewed Cheeks back in Oct. 2025, she spoke with Suffolk residents in the Hollywood community that claimed mail delays have become commonplace for them.
Cheeks was not surprised to hear the audit's findings. She said she was even charged a late fee on a bill that arrived late due to postal delays.
"I saw on the bill, they added a charge due to late payments, I sent them the bill paid it and sent it back with a note. I’m not responsible for postal service," Cheeks said.
Watch previous coverage: Suffolk residents frustrated by ongoing mail delays in Hollywood community
Carriers also did not fill out the required forms to document undelivered mail, the audit found. Inexperienced staff was cited as a key factor behind the mail delays and lack of reporting.
"Delivery issues occurred because management relied on inexperienced carriers and did not follow required procedures to document the extent of undelivered mail. Specifically, the unit faced operational disruptions due to high carrier turnover and inexperienced staff," the audit reads.
The audit also found a trend of employees scanning packages from more than 1,000 feet away from their intended delivery point, with 251 such scans reported. In one instance, a package was scanned as delivered 3.6 miles away from its target destination, the audit reports.
I reached out to the City of Suffolk, who directed me to USPS. However, Suffolk Mayor Mike Duman sent a letter to the Postmaster General and local members of Congress regarding the issues.
A spokesperson with the Office of the Inspector General said a report with recommendations will be released to the Postal Service in early summer.
Watch previous coverage: No mail for over a week for some Suffolk residents amid USPS staffing issues
Improper safety conditions at the Suffolk Post Office were also uncovered during the USPS OIG audit. This included un-inspected fire extinguishers, an electrical panel that was blocked along with dock doors that were chained shut and obstructed by bins.
In response to these findings. Rep. Jen Kiggans penned a letter to the USPS Virginia District Manager, Anthony Impronto, to urge for reforms at the Suffolk Post Office.
"I expect management to address these deficiencies and I look forward to reviewing the final report from USPS OIG. I’m hoping that my letter to District Manager Impronto conveys the seriousness of these issues and helps ensure they are addressed without delay,” Kiggans said.
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