Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has departed the U.S. passenger railroad.
Gardner had been at the helm of the railroad since January 2022. He joined the organization in 2009, and prior to that, was an Amtrak intern "in the 1990s," according to an Amtrak statement.
"I am stepping down as CEO to ensure that Amtrak continues to enjoy the full faith and confidence of this administration," Gardner said in a statement. "We did a lot together to make Amtrak safer, more modern, and a better travel experience for all our customers."
The resignation was "abrupt," according to some reports, with Reuters reporting that the White House "forced" Gardner to step down after President Donald Trump sought the change.
On March 6, Elon Musk said that the post office and Amtrak should be privatized, according to Reuters. That same day, U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Sean Duffy "urged" Gardner along with Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CEO Randy Clarke "to restore greatness to our Nation's Capital with a focus on improving the safety and security of the city's transportation systems," according to a DOT announcement.
Source: Business Travel News