Amtrak CEO ‘forced to resign’ under pressure from Trump

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said he was resigning Wednesday to ensure the railroad “continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence” of the Trump administration.

Late Wednesday, Reuters reported that the White House had asked Gardner to resign. Amtrak officials declined to comment on whether or not Gardner was forced out.

“I am so proud of what the Amtrak team has accomplished to bring passenger rail service to more people and places across the country over these past 16 years, and I thank the Board for their trust and support,” Gardner wrote. “We did a lot together to make Amtrak safer, more modern, and a better travel experience for all our customers. From my start as an Amtrak intern back in the 1990s to ending as CEO, it has been my honor and privilege to lead this great American company, and I wish Amtrak every success. See you on the rails.”

Gardner’s sudden resignation came weeks after billionaire and presidential advisor Elon Musk said the government should privatize the national passenger carrier. Amtrak pushed back on that idea.

Amtrak has not named a successor. A spokesperson for the railroad said they did not have any additional information beyond the statements from Gardner and the board. Roger Harris remains president of the railroad.

Amtrak’s board of directors thanked Gardner for his service in a statement posted to the railroad’s website.

“As Stephen departs today, we thank him for his 16 years of service to Amtrak. We will build on his accomplishments and wish him every success. We look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Duffy as we build the world-class passenger rail system this country deserves,” the board wrote.

Gardner became CEO in 2022, just a year after he had been promoted to president as part of a management restructuring. Before being elevated to president, Gardner was senior executive vice president and chief operating and commercial officer for Amtrak. Gardner first came to Amtrak in 2009 and previously worked on rail and transportation policy for the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation under U.S. Sen. Tom Carper and others. He also held various positions with Guilford Rail System and the Buckingham Branch Railroad in Virginia.

In a statement, Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews thanked Gardner for his time at Amtrak.

“On behalf of America’s passengers, I want to thank Stephen for working during his long tenure to build a better railroad. Under Stephen’s leadership, Amtrak recommitted to operating a truly national network, while making concrete investments to upgrade service and ensure the long-term viability of the U.S. intercity passenger rail system,” Mathews said. “In every interaction I’ve had with Stephen – and there were many – there was never any doubt that he loved trains, loved passenger rail, and loved Amtrak. He has been a good colleague and a great partner to this Association. We wish him every success, and look forward to continuing to work with President Roger Harris as Amtrak continues to grow and modernize.”

This story originally appeared on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.