A federally chartered company, Amtrak receives a number of federal subsidies, including direct investments and grants that aid the company’s operations. In 2024, the U.S. government gave $2.4 billion to Amtrak in federal appropriations.

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner in a statement Wednesday announced he will step down from the nation’s passenger rail company as the Trump administration targets funding for mass transit systems and other transportation initiatives across the nation.

The CEO of Amtrak has resigned from his post just months after the passenger rail service recorded its best single-year ridership in its history. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner announced the move Wednesday,

In a statement, Gardner said, “I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration.” Prior to taking the top role at the firm, he served as Amtrak’s chief operating and commercial officer starting in 2009 and as the organization’s president starting in 2020.