NEW YORK (AP) – This week, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner unexpectedly stepped down from his position leading the US passenger rail service.
Wednesday’s announcement marks a significant leadership shift at Amtrak, which continues to receive backing from US President Donald Trump. Gardner stated that he resigned “to ensure that Amtrak retains the full faith and confidence of this administration.”
A successor for Gardner has yet to be named.
His resignation follows remarks by billionaire Elon Musk, who proposed privatizing not only Amtrak but also the US Postal Service during the Morgan Stanley Tech Conference earlier this month.
Musk is seen as a key figure within the Trump administration, actively advocating for efficiency in federal operations; reports indicate he described Amtrak as “embarrassing,” contrasting it with international passenger rail systems like China’s bullet trains.
When approached for comments on Thursday, the Department of Transportation did not divulge specifics regarding Gardner’s resignation. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy issued a statement focusing on Amtrak’s operations in Washington, DC, urging Amtrak leaders to “clean Union Station” and address issues of homelessness and crime.
According to a source familiar with the situation, as quoted by Reuters, Gardner was reportedly asked to resign at Trump’s request on Wednesday. He had previously been urged to cut Amtrak’s budget in his first term.
Upon Gardner’s departure on Thursday, Amtrak declined to confirm whether he was asked to resign. However, in a statement released Wednesday, the Amtrak Committee expressed eagerness to “work alongside President Trump and Secretary Duffy in developing a world-class passenger rail system for this country.”
Gardner began his career at Amtrak as an intern in the 90s and returned to the company, contributing to Railway Services for 16 years before assuming the CEO role in January 2022.
Amtrak faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, as travel halted and ridership plummeted. Recently, however, passenger numbers have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
In 2024, Amtrak achieved its highest ever ridership record, with 32.8 million customer trips—up 15% from 2023 and surpassing the previous record of 32.4 million passengers in 2019.
Ticket revenue for fiscal year 2024 reached $2.5 billion, a 9% increase from 2023, while Amtrak recorded an adjusted operating loss of $755 million, marking a 9% improvement year-on-year.
Source: apnews.com