As the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prepares to reauthorize surface transportation programs before the September 2026 deadline, lawmakers face a critical test of their ability to separate political theater from policy substance. Furthermore, three years after the East Palestine derailment, the Railway Safety Act of 2025 remains under consideration and may become a part of the reauthorization. This week, it was reintroduced. This is a critical juncture for the safety and standard of living for the American public.
However, inclusion of the bill would be a mistake: Its proposed regulations would do little to improve rail safety but it would divert an enormous amount of freight from rail to trucks, which represents a much greater safety risk for Americans.
