Passenger Trains > Amtrak board nominee...a very good sign

DOGE or not, this suggests to me that Amtrak is NOT on the chopping block

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/trump-nominates-robert-gleason-for-amtrak-board-seat/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/25 16:20 by Chessie1963.

Situation could have been far worse. Wait until the FY '26 OMB budget comes out. Reagan's David Stockman is a choir boy compared  to Vought.

The Postal Service invited DOGE in, though to leave the buzzsaw outside. But they agreed to get rid of 10,000 positions. 

Let's see how he does with Gardner and his cronies running things!

Mr Gleason's background is impressive.  His service on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission likely gave him a close up look at how the sausage gets made, and the need to deliver local jobs.  He knows where the projects to add the second Pennsylvanian train are needed.

Tucked into that release was a mention that Mr Coscia's replacement as chair of the board is upcoming.  It would be very interesting to see Ron Batory (mentioned as one front runner) appointed.  He clearly understands railroading from the ground up

If Coscia is no longer Chair, does he stay on the Board ? I would like to see him go away.

Posted from Android

Mr Coscia's seat on the Board is confirmed thru 2029. The Board selects its Chair each year.

Unlike some Boards of some federal agencies, Amtrak directors serve until their replacement is confirmed. The President or DoT Secretary may request a resignation, of course.

Posted from Android

Fingers crossed. The fact that this nominee was put forward may be a positive sign for Amtrak, as others have noted. On the other hand, the administration hasn't exactly been consistent with its policies, to put it very mildly. Would they put this nominee out there, who favors Amtrak expansion in his own state and has a very good record of serious policy-level involvement in transportation matters, and then pull it back, or even go after Amtrak big time? I would hope not. But given the starts and stops and inconsistencies on other matters such as tariffs, who knows?

Let's hope that this is indeed a positive sign. And that it remains one.

MC