Duffy calls out Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro on SEPTA's safety, finances

In a letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy yesterday called out what he described as "gross mismanagement" of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

In the letter, Duffy referenced five thermal events — including onboard fires — on SEPTA’s commuter-rail system in 2025. Two of those incidents occurred last month.

Duffy also noted that the Federal Railroad Administration earlier this month issued an emergency order identifying 15 conditions that SEPTA must meet to address serious safety risks associated with the agency's Silverliner IV commuter-rail fleet. FRA has also increased the number of rail safety inspectors at SEPTA facilities and on SEPTA equipment.

Also this month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended removing all Silverliner IV rail vehicles from service, which would have sidelined more than half of SEPTA's commuter rail fleet, Duffy's letter noted. Moreover, Duffy raised SEPTA's state of "severe financial stress," which he said is compounding the transit agency's safety problems.

"We understand that SEPTA is currently facing a $213 million budget deficit in fiscal-year 2026 and that you have approved its use of long-term capital funds for daily operations," Duffy wrote. "Robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul accounting gimmicks like this are not sustainable and increase the likelihood of further safety failures as SEPTA defers critically needed capital investment."

In response, Shapiro said that Duffy should call on his fellow Republicans to support the governor's proposed funding package to support mass transit in the state. Shapiro is a Democrat.

"Senate Republicans in Harrisburg have refused to support nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on the system every day and continue to hold up our state budget," Shapiro said, according to a KYW News Radio report on audacy.com.