Washington’s Union Station, an iconic Beaux-Arts landmark just a stone’s throw from the U.S. Capitol, is once again at the center of a political and civic transformation. On August 27, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the Trump administration would reclaim management of the historic rail hub, aiming to restore its grandeur, improve safety, and tackle persistent issues such as homelessness and disrepair. The move, reported by Bloomberg and other major outlets, marks the latest in a series of federal interventions in the nation’s capital under President Donald Trump’s renewed push for control and revitalization.
Union Station, which first opened its doors in 1907, has witnessed more than a century of ups and downs. It has served as a bustling gateway for travelers, a grand civic space, and, at times, a symbol of neglect. Over the decades, the building’s management has shifted multiple times, with the Department of Transportation (DOT) owning the station since the 1980s but gradually ceding operational control to the Union Station Redevelopment Corp., a nonprofit tasked with overseeing improvements and preservation. The Trump administration’s decision to bring the station “back under DOT control” is intended to reverse what officials describe as decades of fractured oversight and to set the stage for a new era.
“He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nation’s capital to be great again. And today is part of that,” Secretary Duffy declared during a press briefing at the station, according to Bloomberg. Duffy was joined by Amtrak President Roger Harris at the event, which also marked the launch of Amtrak’s updated Acela high-speed train service. The message was clear: the administration wants Union Station to be “a point of pride” for Washington, D.C., and a model for urban renewal across the country.
The federal government’s plan is multifaceted. By reclaiming direct management, the DOT intends to clean up the facility, address homelessness, and make Union Station more attractive for businesses seeking to lease space. The administration aims to leverage the station’s commercial aspects, channeling proceeds back into much-needed upgrades—everything from lighting and elevators to security enhancements and roof repairs. “The DOT anticipates that reinvestment and improved security will dramatically improve the income from the station, which should unlock opportunities for private investment,” the agency said in a statement cited by Bloomberg.
This renewed focus on Union Station is part of a broader federal strategy to assert control over key rail hubs along the Northeast Corridor. In April 2025, Trump tapped Amtrak to lead a $7 billion overhaul of New York’s Pennsylvania Station, displacing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as project lead. The administration’s approach, officials say, is to ensure that these critical transportation centers reflect the nation’s stature and can serve as engines for economic growth.
Union Station is already in the midst of the ambitious $8.8 billion 2nd Century Plan, a modernization project that aims to triple passenger capacity, add a new train hall, expand concourses, and redevelop land behind the station—all while preserving its historic facade and the grandeur of the Great Hall. The Trump administration’s takeover is expected to dovetail with this ongoing effort, providing the resources and focus needed to see it through.
The move comes at a time when Washington, D.C., is experiencing heightened federal intervention. Earlier in August, President Trump took federal control of the city’s police department and deployed hundreds of National Guard troops, citing concerns about crime and what he described as “roving mobs of wild youth.” The president has referred to the city as being overtaken by “bloodthirsty criminals,” underscoring the administration’s narrative of a capital in crisis. National Guard troops have been patrolling in and around Union Station ever since, a visible sign of the new order.
Not everyone has welcomed the federal intervention with open arms. When Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Union Station alongside troops in late August, they were shouted down by opponents of the move, highlighting the contentious atmosphere surrounding the administration’s actions. Yet, some local leaders see potential benefits. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said at a separate news conference that upgrading the transit hub would be “an amazing initiative” for the federal government to undertake, especially since the city cannot afford the massive renovation costs. “It has suffered from not being able to get the money that it needs for the renovation,” Bowser noted.
Union Station’s challenges are hardly new. In 1981, rain pouring through the ceiling led the National Park Service—which has jurisdiction over some surrounding areas—to declare the building unsafe. The station was shuttered for five years, only to be revived through the Union Station Redevelopment Act, signed by President Ronald Reagan. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow: foot traffic plummeted as passengers avoided mass transit, and many shops shuttered. Over the past three years, however, the station has enjoyed a modest comeback, though issues of cleanliness, safety, and homelessness persist. The proliferation of tents and encampments around Columbus Circle prompted the Park Service to clear the area in June 2022, but the underlying problems have proved stubborn.
Secretary Duffy has been vocal about the need for change. In March 2025, he pressed Amtrak’s chief operating officer for an updated plan to improve public safety at the station, citing the need for $170 million in urgent upgrades, including a new roof and public restrooms. The administration’s broader vision includes attracting more shops and restaurants to the station, generating revenue that can be reinvested in further improvements.
Meanwhile, Amtrak is rolling out its new high-speed NextGen Acela train, which will begin serving the Northeast Corridor on September 1, 2025. The new trains can reach speeds of up to 160 mph—about 10 mph faster than the previous models—heralding a new era for rail travel in the region. Duffy and other officials boarded one of the new trains for an inaugural ride to New York’s Penn Station, symbolizing the administration’s commitment to modernizing the nation’s infrastructure.
President Trump’s ambitions for the capital extend beyond Union Station. Last week, he called on Congress to allocate $2 billion to beautify Washington, part of a larger campaign to reshape the city’s image and functionality. Whether these efforts will yield the desired results remains to be seen, but the administration’s actions have undeniably set the stage for a new chapter in the story of Union Station and the nation’s capital.
As formal action confirming renewed federal control is expected in September 2025, all eyes are on Union Station. Will this latest intervention finally restore the landmark to its former glory, or will it become another episode in the station’s long history of ups and downs? Washingtonians and travelers alike are watching closely, hopeful that this time, the promise of renewal will be fulfilled.
