The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Amtrak has started to cut costs in response to pressure from the Trump administration to align with its priorities.
According to an article by Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive, the agency carried 15 percent more customers last year than in 2023, and its new St. Paul-to-Chicago line exceeded ridership projections. Now, Amtrak is reorganizing its priorities; its CEO resigned in March, and Amtrak announced it will cut roughly 10 percent of jobs.
In April, USDOT rescinded federal support for the Texas Central high-speed rail project, and “An Amtrak spokesperson confirmed to Smart Cities Dive that the railroad is no longer pursuing new high-speed rail projects.”
Sean Jeans-Gail, vice president of policy and government affairs for Rail Passengers Association, said the flat funding, which is now directed to the national network rather than focused on the Northeast Corridor, is a pleasant surprise in light of feared deeper cuts. “Jeans-Gail said there is a consensus forming around some new policy ideas, such as a national equipment pool that would purchase and lease rail cars, train sets and locomotives to Amtrak, states and other passenger railroads, a practice that is commonplace in commercial aviation.”
FULL STORY: How will Amtrak change under the second Trump administration?
Proposed NYC-to-Boston HSR Would Cut Trip to Under Two Hours
The proposed project would use a mix of new and old rail lines and bypass some cities to speed up the trip.
The Passenger Rail Revival Is Here
For the first time in decades, multiple rail projects are moving forward that could have a transformative impact on train travel in the United States.
A Passenger Rail Revolution?
An injection of federal funding could help make train travel a key component of the U.S. transportation network.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie