Michigan Democrat urges investigation after USPS worker found dead in mail-handling machine

Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that she is seeking answers after a tragic workplace death at a United States Postal Service distribution center in Allen Park, Michigan.

"His body... trapped in a mail handling machine, and he had been dead for 6 to 8 hours before he was found," Tlaib said, describing the death of Nicholas John Acker. She said Acker checked in at 11 a.m. and his body was not discovered until about 12:30 the following day.

Tlaib said the union had previously raised safety concerns at the facility and that a grievance was filed about 90 days before the incident alleging management pressured staff to search for mail while machinery was operating. "Please, Mr. Chair, work with my team and I," she said, asking the committee to pursue answers and consider legislative fixes if needed.

The committee’s presiding member expressed condolences and pledged to work with Tlaib and committee staff to learn more and try to prevent similar incidents. The chair said staff have been communicating with the Postal Service and that the committee would pursue additional information.

The hearing record will include written materials and the chair said members have five legislative days to submit additional testimony. No formal inquiry or vote was recorded at the hearing; Tlaib asked the committee to investigate and said she and Representative Debbie Dingell had written to the postmaster general and had not yet received a response.

Next steps: Tlaib asked staff to coordinate with the Postal Service and to determine whether legislative remedies are needed; the committee has not announced a formal investigation in the hearing transcript.