Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner Resigns
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Photo courtesy of Amtrak
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Amtrak President & CEO Stephen Gardner announced his resignation this week.
Gardner did not give a reason for his departure, but Reuters reported that he was asked to step down by the Trump administration. Amtrak likely faces some choppy air over the coming year around funding issues. Some in the administration have said they want to privatize Amtrak.
Gardner joined Amtrak in 2009, was named President in 2020, then CEO in 2022.
In a statement, Gardner said the following:
“I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration. 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. 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.”
Stephen Gardner (Amtrak photo)
The Amtrak Board made the following statement:
“As Stephen departs [this week], 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.
There has been no official reporting on who might succeed Gardner in the CEO slot.
