U.S. Transportation Department to Reclaim Management of Washington Union Station

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it will assume direct oversight of Washington’s Union Station, removing management from Amtrak amid growing safety and maintenance concerns. Secretary Sean Duffy stated the move aims to “restore this landmark to a point of pride” and enhance security at one of the nation’s busiest rail hubs.

At a ceremony held on the station’s grand concourse alongside Amtrak President Roger Harris, Duffy cited “deterioration and safety lapses” under the current public-private partnership with Union Redevelopment and Amtrak. Formal renegotiation of management contracts is expected to conclude in September, he said, with the DOT taking full operational control soon afterward.

The decision follows directives earlier this year from President Donald Trump, who has deployed National Guard troops across Washington to bolster security in federal facilities. Union Station troops’ presence has already drawn high-profile visits, including from Vice President J.D. Vance.

Amtrak, which has managed the station since its opening in 1988, praised the Acela high-speed train launch on the Northeast Corridor but acknowledged the need for infrastructure upgrades. The new Alstom-built Acela sets-capable of 160 mph-entered service Wednesday but will be limited to existing track conditions until further track improvements are completed.

This action is part of a broader federal push to assume control of key transit projects. In April, the DOT intervened in New York’s Penn Station revamp, removing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from oversight in favor of Amtrak leadership supported by federal funds.

Amtrak’s federal appropriation for 2025 stands at $2.42 billion, matching last year’s record funding. Despite political friction over rail subsidies, passenger numbers reached historic highs in 2024, underscoring the importance of modernizing America’s rail infrastructure while ensuring facility safety and reliability.