With each new move, President Donald Trump continues to tighten his control over the nation’s capital. This week, his administration announced it is seizing management of Union Station, Washington’s landmark transportation hub.
The action follows his unlawful federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the deployment of armed National Guard troops across the city.
“With these new Acela trainsets, Amtrak will provide more reliable service and lower prices for the American people – all while increasing the organization’s profitability,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in a Department of Transportation statement. “But we’re not stopping there. Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair. By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost.”
The Department of Transportation claimed the takeover was necessary because Union Station had “fallen into disrepair.” Duffy insisted the government would do a “better job” running the property and pledged to make it “safe and beautiful.”
However, many Washingtonians, activists and politicians alike note Trump is systematically stripping Washington of home rule.
District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton called the federalization of D.C.’s police force unlawful, noting that crime in the city is at a 30-year low. She applauded D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb for suing to block Trump’s control and introduced legislation with colleagues in Congress to restore the District’s authority.
Union Station is now patrolled by federal agents and National Guard troops with authorization to carry weapons. Officials in the administration describe the actions as part of a “beautification” plan, but residents see the show of force as another step toward permanent federal occupation.
Trump has pushed through illegal redistricting schemes in Texas and other states, weakening minority voting rights. He covered the Rose Garden with concrete, erasing its history, while ordering a $250 million refurbishment of the White House Ballroom designed for displays of grandeur rather than public service.
While many Washingtonians, DMV commuters and travelers alike are concerned about the next phase of the law enforcement takeover in D.C., U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steve Bradbury noted the move is to further the president’s beautification plans.
“President Trump and Secretary Duffy are doing what they do best: making big, beautiful projects come to life. The launch of the new Acela is a critical starting point as we work to improve travel for millions of Americans,” Bradbury said in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with our team at Amtrak and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation to focus our attention on Union Station and make it a world-class transit hub. Our nation’s capital should be putting our best foot forward.”
