Amtrak’s 18,000 workers to receive $900 bonuses, funded by executive cuts

By SAFIYAH RIDDLE

More than 18,000 Amtrak workers will receive a $900 bonus before the end of the year, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Thursday evening.

Funding for the bonuses will come from Amtrak’s executive leadership team bonus packages, the statement said. The federal administration urged executive leadership “to forgo 50% of the bonus packages that would have been paid out under the misplaced priorities of the previous executive bonus structure.”

Amtrak set all-time records for both ridership and revenue in the 2025 fiscal year, according to its annual report , with over $2.7 billion in ticket revenue from 34.5 million riders.

The bonuses were applauded by some unions representing train workers.

“End-of-year bonuses will now go to 18,000 front-line workers