Amtrak: Top Management and Performance Challenges for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027

This report is based on our observations and oversight work, including audits and investigations, and identifies the following key areas that we believe warrant continued attention:

• Safety and Security: Maintaining Focus on Longstanding Risks
• Capital Investment: Responsibly Executing Historic Capital Plans
• Financial Management: Demonstrating Fiscal Stewardship
• Customer Service: Ensuring a Consistent High-quality Customer Experience
• Technology: Modernizing Technology and Reducing Cybersecurity Risk

The scope and complexity of these challenges are daunting and will require robust, coordinated oversight as Amtrak balances its role of providing safe, reliable passenger rail service with managing a massive infrastructure and capital portfolio. Successfully executing these efforts—particularly amid the potential for significant organizational change—will require continued engagement by our office, Amtrak leadership, its Board of Directors, the Department of Transportation, and Congress to help Amtrak improve its operational and financial performance and protect the hard-earned investments of American taxpayers.