Trump budget slashes passenger rail funding by 82%

The White House's proposed FY2027 budget makes drastic cuts to public transit and eliminates high-speed rail funding altogether.

1 minute read

April 19, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Passengers boarding an AMtrak train in Deland, Florida.

Amtrak passengers in Deland, Florida. | Michael715 / Shutterstock

President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 would slash transit funding by 23% and passenger rail funding by 82%, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive. 

According to an analysis from the American Public Transportation Association, the budget would cut $4.8 billion from transit and $13 billion from trains compared to 2026 levels. "Amtrak funding would be cut by 13.5%, affecting its national network and operations in the Northeast Corridor, according to the Rail Passengers Association."

The budget also eliminates all funding for high-speed rail and a program that supports intercity rail and discontinues advance appropriations authorized in 2021. 

Friday, April 17, 2026 in Smart Cities Dive

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