The administration of President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to assume control of Union Station, a vital transportation hub located in the heart of Washington, DC. During a press conference on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made the announcement while joined by Amtrak executives to showcase a new fleet of faster Acela trains. Previously, Amtrak managed the station, which is one of the busiest train terminals in the United States and serves as a shopping center and transfer point for various transport services, including buses, streetcars, and metro lines.
Secretary Duffy emphasized that the Department of Transportation (DOT) owns Union Station, thus allowing the Trump administration to exert its rights over the management of this iconic building. “Today, we’re announcing that we’re going to take Union Station back under DOT control,” Duffy stated. “This is not a power play. We’ve always had it, but we believe we can manage the property better, attract more tenants, and generate more revenue. This revenue will enable us to invest in this beautiful building.”
Since his re-election in January, President Trump has made moves to broaden executive power, particularly regarding the nation's capital. Earlier this month, he declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC, deploying over 2,000 members of the National Guard to patrol the streets. However, recent statistics from the Metropolitan Police Department indicate that violent crime has actually fallen to a 30-year low following a brief increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these figures, Trump continues to assert that crime is rampant in the city.
During a cabinet meeting, Trump remarked, “Crime in DC was the worst ever in history,” asserting that his military deployment helped rectify the situation. “In the last 13 days, we’ve worked so hard, and we’ve apprehended many criminals—over a thousand,” he proclaimed.
The Trump administration has also sought greater control over cultural institutions in the capital. In February, Trump facilitated a significant overhaul of the board governing the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where his appointees quickly elected him as chairman. Furthermore, the administration dispatched a letter to the Smithsonian Institution's leadership, initiating a “comprehensive internal review” aimed at “celebrating American exceptionalism” and eliminating what they consider divisive narratives. Trump has publicly criticized the Smithsonian for focusing excessively on the negative aspects of American history, particularly regarding slavery.
Union Station's central location makes it a focal point for discussions about crime and safety in Washington, DC. Critics have long called for revitalization of the station's shopping mall, which suffered from declining foot traffic due to the pandemic. In his address, Duffy connected the administration's takeover of Union Station to a broader initiative to "clean up" the city. “The president has been clear about his vision for Union Station, American travel, and train travel,” Duffy said. “He wants Union Station to be beautiful again, transit to be safe, and our nation’s capital to be great again.”
Duffy articulated Trump’s ambition for Union Station to become the “premier train station in the world.” He stated, “It needs investments. It has been neglected for decades, and it shows its age.” He also expressed interest in expanding high-speed rail through the station, although the Trump administration recently revoked substantial funding for a similar project in California. “America deserves high-speed rail, not just China, Europe, and Japan,” Duffy asserted.
Amtrak’s management of Union Station is relatively new, having gained control in 2024 following a court battle over the station's interior management. In November of that year, the city announced receiving $82 million in grants for improvements, including expansions and modernization projects. However, the Trump administration has been seeking a more significant role in various U.S. industries, recently announcing a 10-percent stake in chipmaker Intel and a “golden share” in Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel.
Despite the federal takeover, Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed optimism about the DOT’s plans for Union Station. She noted that an influx of federal funds could represent “a very significant and good investment for this region,” emphasizing that the city alone lacks the resources for such extensive renovations. “The federal government owns Union Station. I don’t know the details of what will happen,” Bowser remarked. “If it’s just about management, I would consider that step one. If it’s about what Union Station needs for its total transformation, that would be an amazing initiative for the federal government to take on.”
