Amtrak CEO resigns amid privatization discussions
Amtrak's CEO Stephen Gardner has announced his resignation, causing concern for the national railway service. His departure on March 19 was reportedly at the request of the Trump administration. This resignation comes amid ongoing criticism of Amtrak, particularly from Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has suggested privatizing Amtrak, claiming it is a burden on taxpayers. While President Donald Trump has not publicly commented on this issue, his administration has a history of reducing federal funding for Amtrak. Funding issues have further strained the company, which has faced scrutiny for its performance and infrastructure. Gardner tried to meet the demands of the Trump administration, but the challenges Amtrak faces have been significant. Musk has called the service "kind of embarrassing" compared to high-speed rail systems in other countries. He believes privatization might be the only way to improve the national rail system. Despite the criticism, Amtrak reported record ridership numbers, with 23.8 million passengers in the fiscal year 2024. Ticket revenue also reached $2.5 billion, marking a significant increase. Although Amtrak has not focused on making a profit, the company hopes to become profitable within the next four years.