Latest news with #WMAGA
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
All aboard the WMAGA? Florida congressman wants to rename DC transit for Trump
"This is the Trump Train, next stop: Ronald Reagan National Airport," could be the conductor's call on Washington, D.C.'s commuter rail system if one Florida GOP congressman has his way. Rep. Greg Steube drafted "The Make Autorail Great Again (MAGA) Act," which would withhold $150 million in federal funding from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) until it is renamed "WMAGA" – or the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access, in honor of President Donald Trump. It would also require the METRO rail system – six color-coded lines encompassing about 130 miles of track – to be renamed the "Trump Train." Duffy Slams Mta Over Fact-check Of Anti-israel Mobs' Grand Central Takeover Steube called upon a 1966 District of Columbia law granting congressional "consent" for the interstate compact and ensuing establishment of WMATA. "WMATA has received billions in federal assistance over the years and continues to face operational, safety, and fiscal challenges," Steube said in a statement. Read On The Fox News App "In the spirit of DOGE, this bill demands accountability by conditioning federal funding on reforms that signal a cultural shift away from bureaucratic stagnation toward public-facing excellence and patriotism." The day-to-day operations of WMATA and the METRO, including fares and routings, are controlled by its board – not Congress. It also receives funding and recommendations from the three state/district stakeholders. Dot Saves Taxpayers Over $60M By Terminating Texas High-speed-rail Contract WMATA's board consists of two members from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, plus two appointed by the federal government. Steube called WMATA a "struggling institution" in need of a "fresh identity," particularly ahead of global events scheduled in the region, including the 2027 NFL Draft and FIFA World Cup matches. Fox News Digital reached out to WMATA as well as Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., for comment. Several METRO stations already sport political names, though they often coincide with nearby sites – including for former President Ronald Reagan, ex-Secretary of State John Dulles, Pierre L'Enfant and Pierre DuPont. A move to rename the entire METRO system in honor of a dignitary, however, has never been tried article source: All aboard the WMAGA? Florida congressman wants to rename DC transit for Trump
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
House Republican Wants Americans To Get Aboard This Bizarre Trump Idea
Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) said he's full steam ahead on legislation that would force Washington, D.C.'s Metro public transit agency — one of the largest of its kind in the country — to start boarding passengers on the 'Trump Train.' Steube took to X, formerly Twitter, where he shared an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump in a conductor uniform next to a D.C. Metrorail train with WMAGA written on its side. Steube criticized the transit agency for taking millions in federal funds only to churn out 'delays, dysfunction, and decay' before pointing to his newly-introduced bill which looks to block the agency's funding until it renames itself the 'Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access.' The legislation, a long shot effort, also requires the Metrorail — which services about 600,000 people daily — to be renamed the 'Trump train' in order for the agency to receive funding. 'Like any struggling institution, WMATA [the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority] needs a fresh identity that aligns with efficiency, service quality, and renewed public trust. These new names serve as a bold rallying point for much-needed reform,' said Steube in a press release. Steube has previously been clowned for his efforts to rename U.S. coastal waterways after Trump while other GOP lawmakers have looked to kiss the president's ring by rolling out proposals to rename D.C.'s airport after him, to add his face to Mount Rushmore or to put him on a $250 bill. Steube's proposal got swift pushback on social media including from Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), who declared that D.C.'s transit agency 'is not a vanity project for Donald Trump to steamroll' while emphasizing that the service is the 'backbone of our nation's capital.' 'When will House Republicans stop trying to suck up to Donald Trump and start focusing on lowering the cost of living?' he wrote. Harvard President Takes Serious Swipe At Trump Without Saying His Name At Commencement The Trump Admin Is Reportedly Embracing The Far-Right, Racist Concept Of Remigration Fox Host Hits Back At Trump Adviser's 'Rogue' Talk With Ice Cold Reality Check
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Spring Street Bridge delayed opening disappoints Montgomery County neighbors
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () – The Spring Street Bridge closed and went under construction last June. The new bridge was scheduled to be finished in January, then that date got moved back to spring and summer. The project is part of construction for the Purple Line, and officials said work won't be finished until next year. Purple Line enters dynamic testing phase in Maryland, launch set for 2027 Neighbors who live in the area say they're just ready for the work to be done. 'I mean, I wasn't surprised because I follow it pretty closely and I have a background in the field,' Webb Smedley said. Ken Morris said he was not surprised either. 'Actually, the way it's been going. Disappointed, but not at all surprised really,' Morris said. Neither Smedley nor Morris were shocked to hear that construction for the new Spring Street Bridge in Silver Spring is being extended through the remainder of the year. Both said they've had to endure a lot with the work that's already been taking place since last June. 'There's a lot of noise and sometimes at night, which I'm not thrilled about,' Morris said. 'It affects how we drive; it affects how we walk. It has a lot of effects on our lives that's for sure,' Smedley said. DC bars allowed to be open 24 hours for WorldPride, FIFA matches Neighbors said one of the biggest problems they've dealt with since the bridge closed is the increased volume of traffic coming through their neighborhood. One neighbor even made a sign to voice their frustration about it. Morris and Smedley said, despite the delays and the issues, they're 100% behind the new bridge being built. 'The Spring Street Bridge had reached the end of its lifespan,' Smedley said. 'It was starting to fall apart, so we're glad to have that infrastructure replaced.' Morris said he knows it's an important project. 'I fully support it. It's just in the short-to-medium term, it's a little difficult, but the pain is probably worth it.' Florida Congressman introduces bill to rename Metro 'WMAGA', 'Trump Train' DC News Now reached out to the Purple Line officials for comment on the extension but did not hear back in time for publication. There's no exact timeframe listed for when the bridge will be complete. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Greg Steube: Who is the Florida representative behind the ‘Trump Train'?
WASHINGTON () — A GOP congressman from Florida was making headlines in local Washington, D.C. news on Thursday after he proposed a .' So, who is Greg Steube, the man pushing for a 'Trump Train' in the District? RELATED COVERAGE: Florida Congressman introduces bill to rename Metro 'WMAGA', 'Trump Train' Steube is a member of the House of Representatives , where he was first elected in 2019. Before being elected to Congress, he served for two years in the state Senate and eight years in the House. Steube as a representative who 'supports conservative immigration policies, stands up for our nation's heroes, and fights for faith-based values.' He popped up in local conversation on social media Thursday after proposing a bill to rename D.C.'s Metrorail to the 'Trump Train' or face withheld funds from the federal government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Republican Floats Bill to Rename DC Metro the 'Trump Train'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "All Aboard the TRUMP TRAIN!" Representative Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, said in a social media post introducing his bill, the Make Autorail Great Again Act, on Thursday. The bill seeks to halt federal funding to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) until it formally changes its name to the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA), and the Metrorail is called "Trump Train." Newsweek reached out to the WMATA for comment via email. Why It Matters The WMATA includes Washington, D.C.'s metro and bus system, which carried nearly 200 million people in the 2023 fiscal year. Of those millions of riders, 51 percent were Metrobus riders, surpassing the 95.8 million Metrorail riders by 6.7 million riders. The WMATA receives $150 million in federal funding as part of the federal-state partnership established through the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. While the bill is unlikely to pass, it reflects a broader trend of proposals to name public infrastructure after Trump, including a recent effort to rename Dulles Airport after him. A train arrives at Metro Center station in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2021 A train arrives at Metro Center station in Washington, D.C., on April 23, 2021 AP Photo/Patrick Semansky What To Know Steube's bill states that "no federal funds may be provided" to the WMATA until it is renamed as the "Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access," or WMAGA. The bill stipulates that the Metrorail must be called "Trump Train." The short bill doesn't explain the reasoning for the change. However, Steube said in his press release that the bill was written in the "spirit of DOGE." DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), which billionaire Elon Musk headed until his departure yesterday, aimed to champion cuts to "waste, fraud, and abuse" across the federal government, resulting in mass layoffs and restructuring. Steube said his bill "demands accountability by conditioning federal funding on reforms that signal a cultural shift away from bureaucratic stagnation toward public-facing excellence and patriotism." He argued that the bill "represents more than a name change; it is a mandate for performance and transformation." The Republican Trump ally pointed to the upcoming events the city will be hosting, including the 2027 NFL Draft and FIFA Club World Cup matches, as incentives for the capital transit system to "meet the highest standards." The WMATA underwent significant changes under the leadership of Randy Clarke in 2022, who helped turn around declining ridership, improve safety practices, and address financial shortfalls. Clarke has also prioritized modernization efforts, including the automation of train operations, as well as the "tap, ride, go" feature, which allows riders to use their credit card on the rail turnstile for entry. What People Are Saying Joey Politano, who authors the Apricitas Economics newsletter, on X, formerly Twitter: "You could not be more wrong. WMATA is the best run transit system in the US and has just been getting better & more efficient for years. Leave our beautiful metro out of your culture war bulls***." Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO of WMATA, on X on May 28: "We said Tap Ride Go would be live on rail by end of May and before World Pride and proud to say Team Metro delivered. Today you can now use your credit or debit card to use @wmata. Incredible effort by team & partners to make America's Metro System even better! #wmata." What Happens Next The bill is unlikely to move forward in the chamber.
