Overview

• The Make Autorail Great Again Act, introduced May 29, would withhold $150 million in annual federal aid until WMATA is renamed the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access and its rail lines the “Trump Train.”
• Steube argues the rebrand would signal accountability and spur reforms to address WMATA’s operational, safety and fiscal challenges by conditioning aid on a fresh identity.
• The proposal reflects a broader wave of Republican efforts to name infrastructure after former President Trump but is considered unlikely to advance in the Democratic-controlled House.
• WMATA has reported 47 consecutive months of ridership growth, averaging over 800,000 daily trips, and projects a $20 million revenue increase in the next fiscal year.
• The agency recently rolled out “tap, ride, go” functionality allowing riders to use contactless credit or debit cards as it prepares to serve major events like the 2027 NFL Draft.