WASHINGTON—Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner announced his resignation today (March 19, 2025). No successor has been named.
In a statement on Amtrak’s website, Gardner says, “I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration. I am so proud of what the Amtrak team has accomplished to bring passenger rail service to more people and places across the country over these past 16 years, and I thank the Board for their trust and support. We did a lot together to make Amtrak safer, more modern, and a better travel experience for all our customers. From my start as an Amtrak intern back in the 1990s to ending as CEO, it has been my honor and privilege to lead this great American company, and I wish Amtrak every success. See you on the rails.”
Reuters is reporting that the Trump administration asked Gardner to step down, according to a White House official.
Amtrak’s board of directors said in a statement that it thanks Gardner “for his 16 years of service to Amtrak. We will build on his accomplishments and wish him every success. We look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary [of Transportation Sean] Duffy as we build the world-class passenger rail system this country deserves.”
Gardner gave no reason for his resignation, but it was widely anticipated by insiders as the company confronts uncertain funding challenges from the Trump administration. Amtrak president Roger Harris would presumably assume Gardner’s duties immediately; the president and CEO positions had been combined under many previous chief executives.
Gardner, who joined Amtrak in 2009, became CEO in January 2022, after serving as president since December 2020. He had previously served in a number of executive positions, including chief operating and commercial officer from May 2019 through November 2020. Before that, he had served in a number of positions on Capitol Hill, including as a senior staff member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commere, Science, and Transportation.
In a statement, Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews thanked Gardner for “working during his long tenure to build a better railroad. Under Stephen’s leadership, Amtrak recommitted to operating a truly national network, while making concrete investments to upgrade service and ensure the long-term viability of the U.S. intercity passenger rail system.
“In every interaction I’ve had with Stephen — and there were many — there was never any doubt that he loved trains, loved passenger rail, and loved Amtrak. He has been a good colleague and a great partner to this Association. We wish him every success, and look forward to continuing to work with President Roger Harris as Amtrak continues to grow and modernize.”
Trains News Wire will continue to monitor developments as they occur.
— Updated at 3:58 p.m. CT with additional background; updated at 4:10 p.m. with statement from Rail Passengers Association.; updated at 5:17 p.m. with report that Gardner was asked to step down. Trains Senior Editor David Lassen contributed to this report.
Good riddance. He was nothing more than a political hack with no railroad experience whatsoever. I’m sure there are many Amtrak employees with smiles.
I doubt any good will come from this. Of course I don’t see any good happening for the next four years.
For Amtrak to work it will require three things.
1. Good leadership
2. Funding, fare box revenue will never cover costs
3. A product that people want.
Will this valuable and historic railroad country ever have the exemplary passenger train services that are one of the most natural rights of its citizens?
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
With Gardner gone Amtrak needs to pick a successor. Here’s the criteria that I need Trump and Elon to look for: 1. The nominee must be an employee of the US Department of Transportation and needs to know about railroading. 2. They need to work for a railroad and not aviation or transit agencies. 3. They cannot be an accountant or a political hack. 4. They need to be from a state where rail services are limited. And 5. They need to understand Amtrak’s mission and not try to gut the agency. That is what they need to look for.
Hopefully his replacement will be someone that actually knows railroading. No more “fly-boys” and “NRBA” (No Railroad Background Amateur) types. History shows Amtrak did its best with a railroader in charge (Paul Reistrup, WIck Moorman, Graham Claytor and David Gunn are some examples.)
Aaron I’m sorry rain on your parade but can you identify any Trump pick that was chosen based on his/her competence, experience, and not being a political hack. I don’t watch Fox news but if they have a reporter/host who likes trains then I know who will be the next president of Amtrak:-)
There goes the funding.
here comes doggie.
Not sure I can agree with making Amtrak more modern and a better travel experience for all. If rarely on time, poor equipment, and cancelled trains is a benchmark, then maybe. Sad if one tries to compare rail travel in Europe to the US as there is no comparison.
Hope for the best.. prepare for the worst!!
Note that Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) an American poet and award winning author is famous for the quote…“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between”.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Big changes are coming around the corner me thinks.
Yeah… and probably not good ones.