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5h ago

USDOT Moves to Reclaim Management of D.C.'s Union Station From Amtrak

The move fits a broader assertion of federal authority in Washington tied to safety and “beautification” goals.

FILE - People walk to Union Station as District of Columbia National Guard soldiers stand outside their M-ATV, Aug. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
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Overview

  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the department will retake management of Union Station, with formal action expected in September after renegotiation with Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.
  • DOT cites safety concerns, homelessness and deferred maintenance, and plans upgrades to elevators, lighting, security and the roof, funded by reinvesting commercial revenue and pursuing private investment tied to potential expansion.
  • National Guard troops have been posted at the station as part of the administration’s D.C. security push, a campaign officials frame as combating violent crime that local statistics show has declined in recent years.
  • The federal government has owned Union Station since the 1980s; Amtrak gained interior and retail control in 2024, and DOT pressed the railroad for a public safety plan before the White House forced CEO Stephen Gardner out in March.
  • The announcement coincided with Amtrak’s unveiling of NextGen Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor, capable of 160 mph with roughly 27% more seating than current sets.