WASHINGTON — The election of Donald Trump could significantly reduce future financial support for Amtrak, transit, and high speed rail projects, although expected cuts could be tempered if Democrats are able to capture enough still-undecided House of Representatives races to gain a majority in that chamber.
That’s the consensus of sources Trains News Wire contacted Wednesday, though some declined to express their views publicly.
Near the end of his first term in February 2020, President Trump sought deep cuts in discretionary transportation funding, This was nothing new for a Republican President. A series of chief executives did the same thing, beginning with Ronald Reagan’s attempt in 1981 to “zero out” Amtrak operating support. Those efforts were rebuffed by a Congress, including Republicans, whose leadership sought to maintain a power equilibrium with the executive branch. Observers wonder whether a similar pushback currently exists in their relationship with Trump.
Amtrak management has also generally relied on a champion to help orchestrate its legislative agenda and defend the carrier from budget cuts. Most recently, that role has been played by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Schumer has had strong ties with fellow New Yorker and Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia, who also maintained a relationship with Jared Kushner during the first Trump Administration. Previously, U.S. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), Trent Lott (R-Miss), and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) fought for Amtrak funding.
It is possible Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who championed legislation that has paved the way for Amtrak’s planned New Orleans-Mobile service, may step into that role. Another conduit between Amtrak and the President-elect could be recently-confirmed Amtrak Board of Directors member Joel Szabat, who served as acting Department of Transportation undersecretary during the first Trump Administration.
In any case, scrutiny of Amtrak management is sure to continue if re-elected U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is elevated to Commerce Committee Chairman from Ranking Member. His concerns about bonus compensation were among those expressed at a confirmation hearing of the latest round of potential board members [see “Nominees to Amtrak board support national network …,” News Wire, Sept. 12, 2024].
Joe McHugh, who headed government affairs and state-supported services in a career at Amtrak spanning more than 20 years that began in 1994, thinks those nominees will likely be confirmed in the upcoming “lame duck” session before Thanksgiving.
He tells News Wire, “If I were there now I would be very worried about money that could be taken off the table; all plans are at risk.” This includes advance appropriations as part of President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. McHugh believes major projects already underway, such as replacing a pair of 1873-vintage Baltimore tunnels and Gulf Coast improvements, won’t be affected.
He is also concerned that the change in administrations will put a strain on decision making. “Having gone through these transitions, things will likely come to a halt at Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration for four to six months,” McHugh says.
Others say the Trump Administration may attempt to claw back specific high-profile transportation investments as part of a “cut spending to cut taxes” campaign pledge. Particularly at risk could be continued federal investment in the California High Speed Rail Authority, championed by both the Obama and Biden administrations. The project has created thousands of jobs and pumped millions into the local economy, but for the last decade has fostered ideological opposition.
Members of the current Republican-controlled House have been especially critical of spending on high speed rail. And a faction of lawmakers representing mostly rural districts, many served by Amtrak’s long-distance trains, have repeatedly pointed to the company’s lack of profitability as a reason its annual operating appropriations should be cut. Of course, billions of highway dollars are routinely allocated by formulas based on miles of roads and vehicle miles traveled in each state. Support to keep that status quo spigot of money flowing comes, in part, from road builders’ political campaign contributions.
But control of the U.S. House of Representatives will depend on the outcome of as yet undecided elections. The news site The Hill reports many of these close races may not be resolved for weeks, following expected recounts. Contests in rural Maine, eastern Washington, western Oregon, and southern New York State are among those that will determine whether Democrats will control the House, where all spending legislation originates. Significantly, several races in California’s Central Valley may swing the balance.
Trains News Wire will continue to monitor passenger rail developments in the weeks ahead.
our country needs long distance overnight amtrak passenger trains without them people will never be able to sleep, eat, and see the country by rail
Amtrak Joe was big on ideas but didn’t get anything accomplished. Proposed more routes & more trains. Yes he got funding to rebuild ageing bridges & tunnels on NEC, That was about it.
When it came down to buying equipment, Nothing much was accomplished. New locomotives that perform NO better than 30 years old GE’s that have millions of miles on them. No rolling stock to replace 30-40 year old Amfleet and Superliners.
Had his chance and blew it.
Just responding to Charles’ comment: “He’s (Trump) a New Yorker. He knows the value of rail transportation…”
No unfortunately not. Despite living in NYC for years, good luck finding pictures of him riding Amtrak, NJT, Metro North, MTA subways, etc. Remember he travels on his own gilded jets. He has conned everyone into thinking that he stands for the common man when he has always lived the life of an exclusive millionaire. He does not know or care about public transortation.
Actually Trump was raised in a middle class environment in Queens. His family had way more than enuff money to live in a far wealthier neighborhood but they didn’t. If you want to see people who never rub shoulders with working people, that we be Obama’s set. Democrats. Like my own Wisconsin Senator, Tammy Baldwin (Democrat), who lives with a Wall Street executive in New York.
This week, working class and middle class people voted Republican by the tens of millions. Even Bernie Sanders acknowledged that, that the Democrat Party abandoned the working class, so the working class abandoned them. Even Bernie Sanders knows that the Democrat Party is the party of wealth and privilege, while truck drivers and plumbers and garbage collectors of all colors and races voted for Trump.
This week, privileged young adults on “elite” college campuses have been given therapy goats, lego toys, milk, cookies and yoga music to recover from the fact that the voters, not their professors, decide who wins elections. That’s who the Democrat Party represents. Productive working people vote Republican.
the delusion is strong in this one Obi-Wan Kenobi
The one thing that no one has mentioned but caught my eye was Senator Cruz and his low opinion of Amtrak’s bonus compensation. Maybe that’s one point many of us can agree on.
Charles , just a question . A person driving to work everyday from Attleboro, MA to Boston on I-95 . Should the state pay for maintenance of that portion of the highway or mixed funding like it currently is as is commuter rail ?
Not sure I understand your question, Peter, so I don’t know how to answer it. I don’t know if you’re looking for a philosophical discussion or just my offhand opinion. My opinion is that roads and aviation should be paid from user fees, but rail should be tax subsidized.
In September I drove on I-95 from PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green Airport through Attleboro to a hotel in North Attleborough, and from that hotel to Norton and/or Sharon the next two days. From Sharon into Boston by train, one of those two days. Guess which mode — rail or MassDOT highways, I felt safer on.
Trump is a sociopath & pretty much fits at least half the diagnosis of the DSM reference manual. He’ll be against anything that doesn’t burn as much fossil fuel as possible, including Amtrak, transit, HSR, solar, wind, etc, etc. Elon Musk will the only game in town when it comes to electric cars. Oh, and if I were Vance I wouldn’t get too comfortable because I think Don will replace him with Donny Jr for VP to keep it all in the family.
Amtrak and commuter rail are dead per project 2025 and Elon Musk, who is now the second most powerful person in the world. This what you voted for.
So you bought the Democrat’s BIG LIE that Project 2025 is the Republican platform. (It isn’t.) What other Democrat BIG LIES did you fall for?
Yes I did vote for Trump. Three times in fact. He’s a New Yorker. He knows the value of rail transportation. And unless Alaska’s North Slope elects all one hundred senators and all 435 house members (they don’t), Amtrak will continue to be funded.
Commuter rail should be funded by the states, not the federals.
Mr. Landry. NO! Mr. Trump is all about revenge. NY & NJ voted against him. He is likely to try to stop Gateway or at least slow walk it somehow. And the Fredrick Douglass at BAL and the new draw bridge?? Who knows??/
He delayed it in his first term thru Cho!
Charles, Do yourself a favor and just read the first 10 pages of the Project 2025 plan. It directly affects you. Then when your in awe just pick any chapter written by any of your favorite #45 stooges.
Mark, Give it a rest. The 2025 project is not the REpublican platform. If you want to believe that BIG LIE from the Democrats, then you’ll believe any BIG LIE that comes down the pike.
As Mr. Hitler said, and I paraphrase, the power of a BIG LIE comes from the frequency of its repetition. You yourself just repeated it.
Project 2025 doesn’t affect me because I’ve never had any reason to read it. Has nothing to do with me and nothing to do with anyone I know.
Charles Landley states:
Project 2025 doesn’t affect me because I’ve never had any reason to read it. Has nothing to do with me and nothing to do with anyone I know.
I’m impressed by his logic that Project 2025 has nothing to do with him in spite of the fact that he’s never read it. Maybe he ought to see what’s in before he bloviates any more about Project 2025
Mr. Landley, I respectfully disagree with you on Commuter Rail. It should be funded by private investors seeking to profit from a service offering that attracts a sufficient user base to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, why bother?
Bigger is not better. With much money comes a much bigger risk of waste and subterfuge. What happens when California’s HSR projections fail to deliver? Politicians and advocates will not bear the consequences.
Cutting high-speed rail is stupid. California will benefit from its high-speed rail program when it is completed. There will be fewer flights and fewer cars on the freeways. It’s a win-win for everyone.
No one doubts its long term value, its the short term use of the funds and its ballooning budget that has everyone on edge.
STEVEN Don’t worry about the last four words in your second sentence. Won’t happen.
Have California pay for its non-completion.
California would have benefited from HSR had they designed and built a rational system connecting the Bay area and the LA basin running down the I5 corridor. But no, political considerations resulted in a longer route that wiggles its way through multiple valley towns increasing both the length of the route and construction costs. A total fiasco.
Thanks Mark
My publication I noticed is 5 years old .
So patronage at TVF has picked up decreasing the subsidy.
I recall years ago Keene , NH had per passenger of $1,200 . That has vanished in my research.
My point is every mode of transportation is subsidized.
Amtraks sticks out over most for expensive remodeling costs .*
It is interesting we never hear anything about the Essential Air Service Program.
The Federal Government according to Aviation Insights Magazine spends about $30 billion on aviation a year as a whole .
EAS uses part of that budget to fly to roughly 100 and some odd cities with a subsidy per passenger .
One example is a place called Thief’s River , MN . Per passenger is $504 . the number of passengers that used this service one fiscal year was 4,300 .
Grand Forks airport is 59 miles away.
Just saying .
Peter, I’ll have to admit that I was willfully blind to EAS until reading about that program on these pages. After seeing comments on this forum, I opened my eyes. BNA Nashville International, where I was a frequent flier at that time, has flights to Owensboro (KY), Corinth (MS) and Marion (IL).
Put the numbers out on the table for the public to see. We rail supporters aren’t any better, Peter. Amtrak and regional rail get enormous subsidies off the books in terms of capital spending for infrastructure. Which by the way I support (below) on this very page. I support the massive NEC improvements, but I want them out in the open.
The city is Thief River Falls, Minnesota. In calendar year 2023, TVF had 8,418 enplanements, with a subsidy of $5,975,603. Assuming a similar number of inbound passengers using the service, the per-passenger subsidy is $354.93. But subsidies can indeed be over $500 per passenger. The least-used EAS airport in the 48-contiguous states is Glendive, Montana, where the subsidy is about $660 per passenger. The closest city with air service to Glendive is Sidney, only 54 miles distant, with two others within 105 miles.
Correction: Three additional communities (Wolf Point, Williston, and Dickinson) within 105 miles of Glendive.
I am not defending or supporting a perspective on EAS, but just wanted to raise an interesting point of information.
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (Marion) spent some $22 million upgrading their terminal to attract a commercial carrier and were successful in getting Allegiant.
After 2 years Allegiant changed their mind and decided it wasn’t worth it after all and left. Ever since the airport has been served by various EAS market carriers to connect the airport to a hub (like St Louis).
Allegiant determined that there were other airports close by if they wanted to perform vacation travel. Belleville (109 miles) or Evansville ( 88 miles).
So is EAS for the commercially uneconomic, or to help airports get cost recovery on the new terminals?
Amtrak is but a drop in the bucket when it comes to transportation handouts compared to Hwys & aviation, Oh! but you all use those so those are legitimate right! The old “if I don’t use it we don’t need it, but if I use it I want everybody to help pay for my ride so I can fly & drive at a bargain. The only “money grab” going on here is the $100 billion plus & rising yearly is the the bailout of the Hwy Trust fund because drivers don’t feel they should pay the full cost of their ride yet they feel transit riders should. Most of the public doesn’t fly but all of us have to subsidize the Air traffic control system & TSA, I don’t use it why should I pay for it!! Those tickets wouldn’t be such a bargain if YOU had to pay the full cost for your little getaway. Many on this site have ridiculed the Govt as inept yet you trust them with your life when it comes to flying!! If the National network goes then so should the NEC which accounts for less than 1% of the travel in that corridor yet this is where the bulk of Amtrak $$ goes, they can also cut off the Brightline $$$ while they’re at it. Beyond safety regulations the Govt should not even be involved in the operation of transportation privatize air, roads, rail & transit leave it up to the private sector that so many of you feel can do a better job than Govt anyway!
Well said and I agree fully Mr. Riley!
GALEN — The Amtrak operating subsidy is very small compared to other federal programs. Capital grants (off the books) are starting to add up, like the Gateway and Frederick Douglass tunnels and the new bridges in Connecticut and Maryland.
And thus ends the last, great Amtrak money grab. In fact this was probably the greatest Amtrak money grab in the history of the corporation. Where it goes from here, especially with a significant paradigm shift due, is anyone’s guess.
Having been an adult follower of the news the entire history of Amtrak, I can tell you when Amtrak had the most mindless of cuts. As in this: a dull-minded micromanaging President of the United States saying, Find Me Something To Cut, a cut for the sake of making a statement about cutting.
Who was that president? It was Jimmy Carter, who was a Democrat.
In his first term, Donald J. Trump was, at times when at his worst, a bumbling loud-mouth. This is eight years later. I hope that he has learned that it would be in the interest of all Americans if he works with Congress and with the state governors to make some sense out of this country. Many of his voters (me included) want a smaller but better government which can spend big money when there’s something worthy to spend it on.
As one of the tens of millions who voted for him yesterday (and twice before), here’s what I believe he needs to do:
(1) End funding to CalHSR and similar nonsense, such as some of the nowhere-to-nowhere urban transit systems that have no riders.
(2) Tell the states and locals that Washington DeeCee will begin to wean local transportation off the (borrowed deficit) federal milk. MBTA, for example, should be supported by taxes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. METRA will need to be supported by taxpayers in Illinois and Wisconsin. There will need to be a long transition time.
(3) Some transportation projects genuinely are interstate and need and deserve Mr. Trump’s support. I’m referring to the Gateway Tunnels, the Frederick Douglass Tunnels, and similar improvements that a first-world, wealthy nation like ours should expedite.
You will think I am nuts probably, but I am going to pitch an alternate Amtrak plan to my US House Representatives. All they can say is “No”, “Maybe” or “We will look at it”. Then I can say I did my duty to help. What they do is up to them.
Hey John – I hope your alternative might involve a federal role in paying for everything Below-the-Rail ( mainline and terminal infrastructure and large loss risk) at a set rate equivalent to the highway tax/fee to cost gap, making way for an operator who would be beholden to consumer revenue to fund itself. Interesting, most of the LD trains are in the black when so considered, but we have been subjected to a half-century of skewed analysis.
The detail can be found when searching for “Ending a 50-Year Embargo in the FRA Amtrak Long-Distance Study”.
Charles, Trump has talked about shooting his political opponents and critics just recently. He also also talked about going after democrats who donated to the Harris campaign (among other campaign’s) with a weaponized DOJ. His current VP has gone on record saying he wants to shutter the Social Security Administration completely. (so I hope you aren’t on that Charles!) Ergo; Trump doesn’t learn, he gets worse with age.
Also, which colleges are giving out LEGO (as you said in another post)? Show which colleges and what sets were given out. LEGO is very expensive, and most colleges don’t have budget for that, and I’ll bet none were sitting on sets to give away in case Trump won. If you can quote a real news source, fine. FOX don’t count, they are registered with the FCC as “info-tainment” – not news!