Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Announces Progress in Revitalizing Washington Union Station as Part of President Trump’s Agenda to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful

Unanimous agreement by Amtrak and USRC to restore federal control of Union Station

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced another key milestone in the rehabilitation and modernization of Washington Union Station. As announced in August, the Department of Transportation (USDOT) is taking the lead role in revitalizing Washington Union Station as a safe and beautiful gateway to the nation’s capital.

This week, both Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) Boards of Directors unanimously agreed to approve the terms of a renegotiated cooperative agreement restoring strong federal control of the facility. The new agreement among USRC, Amtrak, and USDOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will fast track restoration efforts, improve security, and attract new economic development.

“The American people have all seen how the mismanagement and neglect of our public transportation system by soft-on-crime leaders can lead to preventable tragedy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Thankfully, we have a President and Department of Transportation who will not tolerate lawlessness. Just five weeks into President Trump's takeover of Washington, D.C., robberies are down 52%, car jackings are down by 38%, and violent crime is down by 40% in the nation's capital. With a new agreement in place, we will make Union Station safer, cleaner, and more financially stable. Our great capital deserves nothing less.”

“Washington deserves a world class rail transportation hub without crime and vagrancy. This revitalization will not only beautify and secure the station but also provide additional space to Amtrak that improves the passenger experience,” said FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feeley. “Reasserting control of the facility will free up Amtrak to focus on its core mission of providing rail transportation.”

The terms of the cooperative agreement will enable the management changes necessary to:

• Address state-of-good-repair projects, 
• Increase revenue through first-class retail, office, and event space, 
• Improve security, 
• Enhance multi-modal transportation uses, 
• Set the stage for increased private investment, 
• Create a family-friendly environment,
• And provide a gateway to the nation’s capital worthy of this great country.

This approach stands in stark contrast to the Biden-Buttigieg Administration’s boondoggle plan to pour over $10 billion of taxpayer money into a far-fetched expansion without addressing the critical needs of the historic station. Under President Trump and Secretary Duffy’s leadership, USDOT will revitalize this historic landmark and make Union Station safe and beautiful again.

“Today’s announcement by DOT propels our mission to transform Union Station into the world-class gateway Washington deserves. In partnership with DOT and USRC, we’re committed to delivering a safer, cleaner, and more seamless travel experience for every passenger. We’ve already made significant strides—welcoming over a dozen new retailers, bolstering Amtrak Police presence, rolling out station refresh and deep-clean initiatives, and streamlining operations—and this new agreement accelerates that momentum,” said Roger Harris, President of Amtrak.

“We appreciate this strategic decision from the Department of Transportation to designate Union Station Redevelopment Corporation with direct oversight of the station. USRC is well prepared to deliver benefits for the station, our passengers, the public, and our partners,” said Doug Carr, CEO, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. “We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the FRA and Amtrak to identify and implement capital improvements related to the station, including its retail operations, as we continue to enhance the Union Station experience for all users.”

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Next Steps for Union Station

Under USDOT’s leadership in charting the course for this historic station, Amtrak and USRC will collaborate to move toward a new formal governance structure.

As the owner of Washington Union Station, USDOT will:

• Bring a “one building” approach to station management,
• Demand improved security, 
• Focus short-term work on addressing a backlog of capital projects, and 
• Promote a long-term vision of Union Station that leverages private investment and expertise and minimizes costs to the federal government.

Under USDOT’s direction, USRC will:

• Operate the retail, office, and event space, along with parking, to maximize revenue for reinvestment,
• Provide Amtrak with new passenger areas as part of a world-class rail travel experience, complemented by the new Acela trainsets,   
• Provide enhanced security to establish a family-friendly station, in cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies and Amtrak,
• Restore the station to a state of good repair, and
• Position this unique asset for a more reasonable expansion plan that can draw private investment and limit taxpayer risk.

Consistent with its mission as a provider of transportation, Amtrak will:

• Return its D.C. offices to Washington Union Station, through a lease with USRC that allows Amtrak’s taxpayer-funded office expenses to be reinvested in a federal asset rather than being spent on private realty,
• Continue to provide a police presence, in coordination with USRC and Federal agencies,
• Leverage new space to create modern and attractive waiting areas, and
• Refocus on its operations in a “back to basics” approach to railroading, featuring its state-of-the-art Acela II trainsets.