Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, announced his resignation on Wednesday, stepping down from the leadership of the nation’s passenger rail service as the Trump administration reviews transportation funding priorities.
Gardner, who has been with Amtrak since 2009 and served as CEO for more than three years, stated that his departure was intended to ensure the rail service maintains “the full faith and confidence of this administration.”
“We did a lot together to make Amtrak safer, more modern, and a better travel experience for all our customers,” Gardner said in his statement.
Amtrak’s board of directors expressed gratitude for Gardner’s 16 years of service and stated that the company remains committed to improving the US rail system. No immediate successor has been named.
Gardner’s resignation comes as President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy introduce new policies affecting mass transit systems. The administration has also requested safety plans from transit authorities and opposed New York City’s congestion pricing plan, which funds public transportation.
Amtrak has historically relied on federal funding, receiving $2.4 billion in 2023, with $66 billion allocated to rail projects in the 2021 infrastructure bill. Despite record ridership in 2024, Amtrak has faced challenges, including aging infrastructure, service delays, and financial losses.
Amtrak has been the subject of debate regarding potential privatization. Elon Musk, an advisor to Trump, recently suggested that privatizing the rail system could lead to more efficiency, though the administration has not confirmed plans to do so.
With input from the Washington Post, CNBC, and the New York Times.
