STEPHEN Gardner announced on March 19 that he is stepping down as CEO of US national passenger operator Amtrak “to ensure that it continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration.”
Gardner, who is a lifelong Democrat, is making way for someone who is more politically aligned with the policies of the Trump administration. US transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, has threatened to end federal funding to transit agencies for capital investment projects if they fail to comply with new regulations and mandates.
According to Bloomberg, Trump and Republicans in the House of Representatives have proposed to cut Amtrak’s federal subsidy by as much as half.
“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,” Gardner said in a statement.
“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 honour and privilege to lead this company.”
