The Trump Administration's Expected Impact On U.S. Rail

A second Donald Trump Administration is poised to usher in notable changes in U.S. passenger and freight rail policy.

During President Trump's first term, passenger rail was not a primary focus. The President-Elect's past actions and campaign statements indicate that it is unlikely to become a priority in his upcoming term. The shift in passenger rail policy may include reduced federal support for existing passenger rail services and high-speed rail projects. Additionally, public transit systems, which rely on federal funding, could face challenges in securing resources for the maintenance and expansion of rail systems due to cuts in discretionary transportation funding. Deregulation of the passenger and freight rail industries, which President Trump pursued in his first term, will likely resume in his second term.