Trump Administration Calls for Flat Funding for Passenger Rail

Advocates for improved passenger rail service have cause for cautious optimism following the release of the Trump Administration’s fiscal year 2026 transportation budget request, which signals a continued commitment to the national Amtrak network.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) unveiled the proposal late last Friday, which includes $2.427 billion for Amtrak operations—essentially the same levels of funding as in FY25 and FY24. While the purchasing power of that dollar amount has eroded due to inflation, it remains a dramatic improvement over calls to eliminate all Amtrak funding issued during the first Trump Administration.

The USDOT does call for a reallocation of resources between Amtrak's two operating accounts:

• $1.58 billion for Amtrak’s National Network, an increase from $1.29 billion in FY25
• $850 million for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, down from $1.14 billion in FY25

Amtrak hasn’t issued a public statement in response to the budget proposal. Presumably, the railroad will be able to utilize increased ticket revenue to cover the reduction in federal assistance for NEC operations.

Other key rail and transit programs also saw flat funding or a slight reduction, including:

• $500 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, up from $100 million in FY25;
• Zero dollars for Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) Program, same as FY25; and
• $2.21 billion for the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investments Grant (CIG) Program, same as FY25.

The document also includes advanced funding for rail programs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in tallying total budgetary resources, a positive indicator that the Trump Administration plans to move ahead with discretionary rail grants to states and local governments.

“This budget request indicates that the work advocates are doing is having an impact,” said Jim Mathews, President & CEO of the Rail Passengers Association. “We are seeing a growing bipartisan recognition that rail is an important piece of the U.S. transportation network. With predictable investment, trains can provide Americans with a safer and more efficient travel alternative to congested roads and highways.”

The U.S. House is scheduled to take up the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) bill in early July, meaning negotiations could still alter funding levels before the bill becomes law. Nevertheless, for rail advocates, the White House budget proposal is a strong signal that we’ve made progress in building a more durable political coalition.

“We encourage the House and Senate appropriators to build on the Trump Administration’s budget proposal for passenger rail programs,” said Mathews. “It’s up to Congress to continue this positive momentum.”