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yesterday

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

Formal control is expected next month through a new agreement with current managers.

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 move on Aug. 27 as part of the administration’s safety and cleanup push in the capital, with National Guard patrols continuing in and around the station.
  • The department is renegotiating a cooperative agreement with Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, with formal confirmation of federal control expected in September.
  • Officials outlined near‑term fixes estimated at roughly $170 million, including a new roof, upgraded elevators and lighting, added security, and refurbished restrooms and core building systems.
  • Union Station has been federally owned since the 1980s; Amtrak assumed day‑to‑day management in July 2024 before the new plan to return operations to USDOT.
  • Federal claims about crime at the hub are disputed by city data showing declines in violent offenses, while Mayor Muriel Bowser called potential federal investment in renovations a welcome step.