Railway Safety Act Sparks Controversy Over Costs and Mandates A contentious safety measure that railroads and other industries claim will cost them billions to implement and raise consumer prices has been folded into the broad surface transportation reauthorization legislation. The Railway Safety Act gained support this week from President Donald Trump as part of the Build America 250 Act, which advanced through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday. Association of American Railroads President and Chief Officer Ian Jefferies said in a statement late Thursday that freight railroads have consistently maintained that rail policy provisions should be targeted, grounded in data, and linked to clearly demonstrated operational or safety needs. He argued that some provisions approved today do not meet that standard. Instead of focusing on evidence-based reforms tied to the actual causes of incidents like the 2023 East Palestine hazmat derailment, the package includes a broad set of unnecessary mandates under the guise of safety that will raise costs across the freight network and broader supply chain without proven safety benefits, ultimately harming rail customers, manufacturers, energy producers, farmers, and American consumers already dealing with significant affordability challenges. The Railway Safety Act aims to prevent derailments, particularly those involving hazardous materials. It requires two-person crews on freight trains, enhanced inspections, improved wayside defect detection, greater protections for first responders, and stricter train operating standards. Jefferies described the Act as especially misguided, noting that 2025 was the safest year in freight rail industry history across several key safety metrics, including record lows in derailments, equipment-caused accidents, track-caused accidents, and employee injury rates. He stated that these improvements came from sustained private investment, technological innovation, and data-driven safety practices, not rigid federal mandates. He added that the Railway Safety Act, as written, goes against the President's pledge to reduce costs