Slashing FRA personnel would make railroading less safe, unions say

Fifteen rail labor organizations expressed "deep concern" to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that sufficient staffing levels will be maintained at the Federal Railroad Administration. 

In a March 11 letter to Duffy, the unions cited a Feb. 26 memorandum from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which proposes reductions in FRA personnel. The staffing cuts would have "devastating" safety consequences for rail workers and the general public. 

"FRA personnel are essential to enforcing rail safety regulations, conducting inspections, investigating accidents and ensuring compliance with maintenance and operational standards," the letter states. "Cutting FRA staff to pre-2021 levels would significantly hinder these safety-critical functions, increasing the likelihood of preventable rail disasters."

A claim in the OMB/OPM memorandum that federal funds are being misallocated to "unproductive programs" is not applicable to an increase in FRA personnel that occurred after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 included an increase in rail funding for critical safety improvements, the unions say.

"Rail projects funded by the IIJA are already enhancing safety for workers and communities alike. These projects, including track upgrades, bridge construction, signal modernization and grade crossing safety improvements directly impact the working conditions of rail employees and the overall integrity of the rail network," the letter states.

Reducing FRA staffing would slow the administration of FRA grants that help fund those rail-safety projects, which would lead to more hazards on the job.

"At a time when rail-related accidents continue to pose serious risks, any cuts to FRA personnel would undermine efforts to improve safety standards and enforcement," the unions wrote.

The labor groups also urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to maintain independence of the FRA Office of Research, Data and Innovation in advancing rail safety through data-driven research.

The unions' letter to Duffy was sent as presidential adviser Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continue to purge thousands of federal employees at agencies throughout the U.S. government.