FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2026
September 23, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
New Bipartisan Bill Vital to Ensuring Railroad Safety, AFGE Says
Categories:
DOT, Congress
Sens. Peters, Justice introduce legislation to help Federal Railroad Administration address recruiting and retention challenges
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees is urging lawmakers to support new bipartisan legislation that is needed to address persistent shortages of federal workers who are critical to ensuring the safety of our nation’s railroads.
Rail safety inspectors and specialists with the Federal Railroad Administration enforce federal safety laws across about 160,000 miles of track and at thousands of hazardous materials facilities. Yet the federal government’s current pay and classification system pays these critical workers less than employees doing comparable jobs at other agencies and limits their advancement opportunities – resulting in persistent recruitment and retentional challenges for the agency.
A new Senate bill (S. 5450) introduced Tuesday by Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) would address these structural issues by raising the journeyman grade for FRA railroad safety inspectors from GS-12 to GS-13 and for railroad safety specialists from GS-13 to GS-14. The changes would amount to increasing maximum annual salaries for these positions by nearly $20,000.
“This bill would address a fundamental flaw in federal rules that prevent railroad safety inspectors and specialists from advancing beyond their entry pay levels – resulting in many leaving the agency for higher paying jobs elsewhere once they’ve been trained,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “Without these structural changes, the Federal Railroad Administration is hamstrung and can’t retain the employees it has invested time and money to recruit and train.”
The FRA reached a staffing peak last year only to see 11 inspectors leave within eight months for jobs paying higher wages.
“Our members who serve as railroad safety inspectors and specialists enforce federal safety standards, conduct inspections, investigate accidents, and help protect workers, communities, and the national rail network every day,” AFGE Local 2814 President Scott Hoose said. “Ongoing recruitment and retention challenges at the FRA weaken the agency’s ability to provide strong oversight. Addressing pay is a practical and necessary step toward building and sustaining the workforce required for effective safety enforcement.”
Hoose thanked Senators Gary Peters and Jim Justice for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the legislation.
“By tackling compensation for these critical safety positions, the senators are taking meaningful action to help the FRA recruit and retain the skilled professionals essential to overseeing railroad safety across the country. Fair pay is vital to attracting experienced talent and keeping qualified inspectors and specialists in federal service, rather than losing them to higher-paying opportunities elsewhere,” Hoose said.
“I appreciate the bipartisan approach shown by Senators Peters and Justice. Railroad safety is a shared priority that crosses party lines. AFGE Local 2814 looks forward to continued progress on this legislation and stands ready to support efforts that give the FRA the tools and personnel needed to keep America’s railroads safe.”
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