Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner has abruptly resigned from his top post amid pressure from US President Donald Trump. The leadership change is believed to have been prompted by Trump’s support for the rail service, with Gardner saying he stepped down “to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration.”
Gardner took over as CEO in January 2022, following 16 years of service at the railroad. His departure comes after billionaire Elon Musk floated privatization ideas for Amtrak during a recent tech conference.
The Transportation Department has declined to comment on whether Trump asked Gardner to step down, but an Amtrak spokesperson stated that they look forward to working with Trump and Secretary Sean Duffy as part of their goal to build a world-class passenger rail system.
Amtrak’s ridership has rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 32.8 million customer trips reported for the 2024 fiscal year – surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Ticket revenue increased by 9%, and Amtrak posted an adjusted operated loss of $705.2 million, also a 9% improvement from 2023.
Gardner first joined Amtrak as an intern in the 1990s, before returning to work at the railroad for 16 years. His resignation marks a significant shift in leadership for the US passenger railroad, with no immediate successor named yet.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/amtrak-ceo-abruptly-resigns-nations-152721533.html