Amtrak has reduced the size of its management team by 10 percent, eliminating 450 positions to save approximately $100 million annually. The cuts come just weeks after the railroad stated it was looking to cut costs amid a push for reduced spending in Washington, D.C. 

“Amtrak has recently completed a review of its costs and management structure and identified opportunities to better align resources with the important work we are doing for America,” a spokesperson wrote in an email to Railfan & Railroad on Wednesday. “Through a reduction-in-force process and cutting of open positions, Amtrak has eliminated approximately 450 roles.”

According to an employee advisory shared with Railfan & Railroad, Amtrak informed 250 people that their positions had been eliminated and closed another 200 open positions. 

“We are grateful for everything our departing colleagues did for Amtrak,” Amtrak President Roger Harris wrote in the employee advisory. “There is no easy way to complete a staff reduction of this size. Know that we did everything we could to Do the Right Thing and treat everyone involved with dignity, respect and care. Amtrak is also providing affected employees with support and resources to help them with the transition.”

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration forced former CEO Stephen Gardner out. This move was seen as a sign that the White House was unlikely to provide much support for the passenger railroad, especially considering its last budget in 2020 called for dramatically reducing its funding. While the Trump Administration released a preliminary budget earlier this month, which included a list of programs it planned to cut funding for, Amtrak was not mentioned in it. —Justin Franz