Anyone familiar with Washington knows that Union Station is often the starting point for President Trump’s initiatives.
Once a symbol of American commerce and connection for over a century, it now stands as a troubling representation of our capital’s crime issues.
The station has fallen into disrepair. Shops have shuttered. Homelessness has surged. Tourists and train travelers increasingly feel unsafe in an area that once exemplified a flourishing nation, now marred by neglect.
Trump and I are committed to reversing this downturn.
The Transportation Department has been in charge of Union Station since the 1980s. Last week, my team regained control of the station management after years of stagnation. It’s high time we restore safety, boost economic activity, and carry out significant renovations.
Our strategy involves a unified approach with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and Amtrak to enhance this historic landmark at the heart of our nation’s capital. We’ll focus on improving security, fostering private investment, maximizing station utilization, and addressing overdue projects.
Estimates indicate that Union Station’s needed upgrades, like better elevators, lighting, security measures, and roof replacements, will cost around $170 million. Previous administrations looked to invest over $10 billion for expansion over 13 years, neglecting the station’s basic needs. This has led to some unfortunate cutbacks, including parking.
We plan to act promptly to restore Union Station’s beauty and safety, and we aim to do it responsibly. In fact, just a few days into this initiative, improvements in cleanliness are already noticeable.
Revamping Union Station is only one piece of the larger puzzle to enhance Washington, D.C. The city’s crime crisis continues to be severe. As Secretary of Transportation, I find the state of our metro system unacceptable.
Trump rightly emphasized the need for our capital to lead in public safety. Because of his leadership, National Guard members are currently patrolling the metro system. But we need to push for more improvements at Metro, creating an environment with zero tolerance for violence, no matter the age of the perpetrator.
Prior to Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and federal police, incidents involving riders and staff escalated. Reports from Metro Transit Police show that arrests and citations have risen by 33%.
When I visited a metro station near my department’s headquarters, I witnessed the lawlessness firsthand. I was assaulted. Law-abiding citizens are bearing the brunt of the chaos. Many young offenders seem to know that they won’t face serious consequences. On average, Washington sees at least one bus driver attacked each day.
We need to stop sugarcoating the issue. The juvenile justice system in the district is failing, putting both metro passengers and workers at risk.
Let’s consider some recent incidents. In March, a 19-year-old shot a stranger on a Metro Bus in Southeast D.C., just hours after another shooting on the same route near 22nd and Minnesota Avenue.
In April, a shooting outside the Petworth Metro station resulted in one teen dead and another injured.
In June, a triple shooting near Vernon Square Metro claimed the life of a council intern and injured two others.
Just last month, a 15-year-old was shot in Navy Yard, while another youth discharged a stolen firearm just a block away during a subsequent incident.
These events, combined with existing statistics, depict a transport system resembling a war zone. The Trump administration will not tolerate such disorder any longer.
In recent weeks, the National Guard and federal law enforcement agencies have been tirelessly working to restore order. So far, residents have noticed significant improvements.
Carjackings have plummeted by 83%. The robbery rate has dropped by 52%. Overall violent crime is down by 40%. Authorities are finally removing illegal firearms, drugs, and criminals from the streets. Even D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed her appreciation for the increased law enforcement efforts.
“We’ve seen fewer gun crimes and murders, as well as a drastic reduction in carjackings,” the mayor stated last week.
However, the D.C. government must take further action. Why do local officials allow violent juvenile offenders to return to public transport and terrorize passengers? Recently, a ban on violent offenders in the Metro system was enacted, but many district laws still offer minimal penalties for juveniles. This means that even those committing serious crimes may walk free within hours, only to return to the same areas they previously endangered.
What message does this send? It’s simple: commit a crime today, commit another by dinner, and hop back on the train.
This issue extends beyond D.C. It’s the nation’s capital. The Metro is among the busiest public transport systems in the country. Tourists and federal workers rely on it. It’s essential for the country’s functionality. Union Station is right at its core.
To safeguard passengers and restore trust, D.C. leaders have to reform the juvenile justice laws to enforce serious penalties for violent crimes, including armed assaults, shootings, and sexual offenses.
The Metro’s bans also need strengthening, ensuring that repeat violent offenders, juveniles included, cannot re-enter the system. Additionally, we must close legal loopholes that allow those with pending violent charges to continue using public transport before their cases are resolved.
Simultaneously, security measures at Metro must be boosted. Increased police presence at high-risk stations and during late-night routes should specifically target armed juveniles and known repeat offenders.
Moreover, WMATA’s security camera systems should be fully integrated with the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to facilitate prompt identification, arrest, and prosecution.
We are working to transform Union Station from a crime-riddled area into a vibrant commercial hub.
