WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump’s administration has taken management of Union Station away from Amtrak, marking another step in the Republican president’s bid to consolidate federal control over the nation’s capital.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the federal takeover Wednesday at Washington’s iconic rail hub, standing alongside Amtrak President Roger Harris during the unveiling of the rail service’s updated Acela train. The federal government owns Union Station, a landmark just blocks from the U.S. Capitol that has served as a critical transit artery since its opening in 1907.
Duffy said the move was necessary because the station has “fallen into disrepair” and should instead be “a point of pride” for the District of Columbia. He emphasized that the Trump administration’s plan was aimed at both restoring the building’s historic stature and enhancing safety.
“He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nation’s capital to be great again. And today is part of that,” Duffy said, echoing Trump’s broader agenda.
The takeover represents Trump’s latest attempt to assert direct authority over Washington. In recent weeks, the president has expanded the presence of federal law enforcement and immigration agents in the city, assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department, and activated thousands of National Guard members to patrol city streets. Last week, Trump called on Congress to approve $2 billion for beautification projects across the capital.
Duffy argued that federal management could generate more revenue for upgrades by attracting new shops and restaurants, while also funding long-delayed repairs. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steve Bradbury cited $170 million in needed improvements, including a new roof and new public restrooms.
The history of Union Station has been marked by alternating periods of decline and renewal. In 1981, the National Park Service declared the building unsafe after water leaks damaged the structure, prompting a five-year closure until Congress, with the help of President Ronald Reagan’s Union Station Redevelopment Act, funded a major restoration.
The station again suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, when passenger numbers plunged, shops shuttered, and the facility became a site for encampments of homeless individuals. In 2022, the Park Service cleared tents from Columbus Circle outside the terminal after concerns grew over safety and accessibility.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the federal takeover was welcome given the city’s limited resources. “It has suffered from not being able to get the money that it needs for the renovation,” Bowser said.
The latest move follows months of federal concern over crime at the station. In March, Duffy pressed Amtrak in a letter demanding new safety measures. National Guard troops have patrolled Union Station and its surrounding streets since Trump announced his citywide anti-crime initiative earlier this month. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were heckled by opponents of the intervention when they toured the area last week.
Amtrak, meanwhile, sought to emphasize progress with the introduction of its NextGen Acela service. Harris said the high-speed trains, capable of reaching 160 mph, will begin operating Thursday along the busy Northeast Corridor, replacing the older Acela fleet. After Wednesday’s announcement, Duffy and other officials boarded one of the new trains for an inaugural ride to New York’s Penn Station.
Union Station’s ownership and management have shifted multiple times during its nearly 120-year history. Trump’s decision to bring it under tighter federal control underscores his administration’s determination to make the capital a showcase for what he calls “a new era of safety and pride.”
