The Trump administration announced Thursday that more than 18,000 Amtrak workers will receive $900 Christmas bonus checks after executive bonus money was redirected to frontline employees.
The deal was reached between President Donald Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, and Amtrak leadership following a record year for the passenger rail service.
Administration officials said the move reflects Trump’s push to boost take-home pay for American workers, particularly unionized and blue-collar employees who keep critical infrastructure running.
According to the Department of Transportation, Amtrak executives agreed to give up 50 percent of their annual bonus packages under the previous compensation structure.
At the urging of the Trump administration, Amtrak’s Board of Directors also voted to eliminate long-term incentive bonuses for senior executives entirely.
The money freed up by those cuts is now being redistributed directly to unionized frontline workers in the form of $900 holiday bonuses.
Officials said the decision follows strong ridership and revenue growth for Amtrak over the past year, marking one of the best financial performances in the agency’s history.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy framed the move as a clear shift toward rewarding the workers who keep the country moving every day.
Duffy said his department is focused on improving the travel experience across the board, from aviation to rail, and credited unionized Amtrak workers for delivering results.
The administration contrasted the new bonus structure with what it described as Biden-Buttigieg era policies that prioritized generous executive payouts over frontline compensation.
Officials said the Department of Transportation uncovered bonus systems that rewarded senior Amtrak leadership even as rank-and-file employees carried the operational burden.
Under Duffy’s leadership, the department is now restructuring compensation models to better reflect performance and ensure workers across the system are properly rewarded.
Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven G. Bradbury praised Amtrak’s leadership for agreeing to the changes and said the administration expects similar accountability going forward.
Union leaders welcomed the announcement, calling it a long-overdue acknowledgment of the employees who keep trains running safely and on schedule.
Mark Wallace, national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said Amtrak is seeing real progress with record ridership, expanded service, and improved customer experience.
Wallace credited the Trump administration for pushing to ensure end-of-year bonuses went to more than 18,000 frontline workers instead of being confined to executive offices, per Trending Politics.
He called the move a meaningful step toward recognizing the employees who keep the railroad moving.
SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson echoed those sentiments and highlighted the timing of the bonuses during the holiday season.
Ferguson said providing frontline employees with a meaningful bonus acknowledges their dedication and service during one of the busiest times of the year.
He thanked the Trump administration for backing the effort and supporting workers who keep the nation’s passenger rail system strong.
Administration officials said the Amtrak bonuses are part of a broader effort to review compensation structures across federally connected entities.
They signaled that additional changes could follow as Trump continues prioritizing workers over bureaucracies and executive excess.
