Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner resigned from his position this week, citing the need to maintain support from the Trump administration. In a statement, Gardner mentioned his decision was to ensure Amtrak retains the administration’s confidence. No immediate successor was announced. Gardner’s resignation comes shortly after Elon Musk suggested privatizing Amtrak and criticized its performance compared to international standards. The Transportation Department provided limited details regarding Gardner’s departure, emphasizing the need for improved operations at Amtrak’s Union Station. According to Reuters, Gardner was reportedly asked to resign by President Trump, who had previously proposed cutting Amtrak’s budget. Amtrak has seen a resurgence in ridership post-pandemic, reaching a record 32.8 million customer trips in the 2024 fiscal year. Ticket revenue increased by 9%, though an adjusted operating loss of $705.2 million was reported. Gardner had served as CEO since January 2022 after working with Amtrak for 16 years. — news from The Associated Press
