Whistleblower Report on LIRR Executive’s Job Favoritism

A recent watchdog report has unearthed troubling practices involving a former executive at the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), who allegedly pressured an MTA contractor to offer his son a job after checking with five other firms. This revelation comes from an investigation led by the MTA Inspector General.

In 2023, Andrew Arens, who held the position of assistant chief program officer at LIRR, reportedly misused his authority by reaching out to staff members at six companies under contract with the MTA. This ultimately influenced one company to employ his son.

Inspector General Daniel Cort also cautioned the contractor for not reporting obvious ethical breaches associated with this incident.

Cort emphasized in a statement that MTA staff should prioritize public interest over personal gain, such as securing jobs for family members. He noted that Arens’s actions constituted a breach of trust and violated the MTA’s ethical standards. Additionally, vendors are mandated to promptly report any inappropriate requests.

While Arens was responsible for overseeing significant projects at LIRR, he continued to manage the agency’s operations even after his son was hired, though the name of the company involved is not included in the report.

The investigation revealed that Arens utilized his MTA email to send his son’s resume to employees at various firms while overseeing a substantial infrastructure initiative.

One of those firms, referred to as “Vendor 1,” ended up hiring his son, even though he was assigned to a project unrelated to the MTA, according to the report.

Importantly, none of the six companies reported the outreach to the MTA’s chief compliance officer, which is a requirement outlined in the MTA’s vendor code of ethics.

Investigators described the actions of the official as akin to “soliciting” a job, viewed as a prohibited “gift” in this context. Ultimately, both Arens’s son and the vendor’s employees were let go, although their identities remain undisclosed.

While no disciplinary actions were recommended since Arens has already retired from LIRR, the case has been forwarded to the state Ethics Commission for potential further investigation.