WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is set to take back full management of Washington’s historic Union Station, a move announced on Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The decision, which is expected to be formalized in September, follows “safety concerns” raised by the Trump administration and is part of a broader effort to exert greater federal control over key national infrastructure.
A Shift in Control and Safety Concerns
Union Station, one of the nation’s busiest rail hubs, has long been managed by the nonprofit Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and Amtrak. According to Secretary Duffy, the USDOT is now renegotiating its cooperative agreement to reclaim direct oversight of the station’s operations. This action follows the administration’s recent and controversial decision to deploy National Guard troops to Washington D.C., and Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the station last week to meet with soldiers.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration has intervened in the management of a major transit hub. In April, the USDOT withdrew the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from leading the Penn Station Reconstruction project in New York City, handing oversight to Amtrak and the USDOT instead.
New Acela Trains and Shifting Priorities
The announcement comes on the same day that Amtrak is set to debut its new high-speed Acela trains on the busy Northeast Corridor, a route that connects Boston to Washington and serves a region representing 20% of the U.S. economy. The new trains, built by Alstom SA, can reach speeds of up to 160 miles per hour, 10 miles faster than the current fleet, and will have 27% more seating capacity. However, the higher speed will be limited to only a few track sections until further infrastructure work is completed.
The Trump administration’s actions regarding Amtrak and rail infrastructure reflect a clear shift in priorities. During his first term, Trump repeatedly sought to cut federal funding for Amtrak, which received about $2.4 billion in annual federal support in 2023. This year, Congress approved a slightly higher funding package of $2.42 billion, but the administration continues to signal its desire for reform. In March, the White House forced the resignation of Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, and just last week, the administration announced a new metals tariff on imported railcars, signaling a preference for U.S.-built rail infrastructure.