The Trump Administration has announced that Amtrak will distribute bonuses to more than 18,000 of its unionized employees, using funds that were previously allocated for executive bonuses. This move comes after continued oversight by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding the size of bonuses paid to Amtrak executives.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) commented on the development: “In recent years, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has conducted ongoing oversight of the exorbitant bonuses paid to Amtrak executives. We have passed legislation out of the House to increase transparency in Amtrak’s decision making, as well as make public the bonuses the rail service’s executives receive. I commend the Administration for working with Amtrak’s leadership to redirect much of that bonus funding to the thousands of Amtrak employees this holiday season.”
Daniel Webster (R-FL), Chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, also addressed the announcement: “Thanks to President Trump’s actions to restore accountability and fiscal responsibility at Amtrak, over 18,000 Amtrak workers will take home a bonus this Christmas. Unlike the previous Administration, that cared little about Amtrak accountability, President Trump is focused on responsibly managing taxpayer dollars while putting the hardworking Americans that keep our trains running first.”
Earlier in 2025, legislative measures were introduced in Congress aimed at increasing transparency around compensation at Amtrak. On January 14, 2025, the House approved H.R. 192—the Amtrak Executive Bonus Disclosure Act—requiring annual public disclosure of salary bonuses given to company executives. Another bill approved by committee on April 2, 2025—H.R. 188—seeks greater transparency by applying federal open meetings requirements to sessions held by Amtrak’s board of directors. These initiatives followed Republican-led oversight efforts into executive compensation practices at Amtrak.
