Bill Summary
The proposed legislation, titled the "Make Autorail Great Again Act," aims to restrict the allocation of federal funds to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unless it undergoes a name change. Specifically, the bill mandates that WMATA be renamed to the "Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access" (abbreviated as WMAGA), and that the Metrorail system be referred to as the "Trump Train." The legislation emphasizes the need for this name change by requiring an amendment to the existing Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact, which is a legal agreement consented to by Congress. Until these naming changes are implemented, no federal funding would be provided to support the transit authority.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the proposed legislation could affect people:
1. **Impact on Public Transportation Services**: The renaming of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to the “Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access” could create confusion among riders and stakeholders. If the authority fails to secure federal funding due to the name change requirement, it may lead to budget shortfalls, resulting in reduced services, fewer trains or buses, and longer wait times for commuters who rely on public transportation to get to work or school.
2. **Political and Public Sentiment**: The politically charged nature of the legislation, particularly the proposed name change to “Trump Train,” could polarize public opinion. Supporters may view it as a step toward promoting accessibility and support for former President Trump, while detractors may see it as a politically motivated attempt to influence public transportation branding. This could lead to protests, public debates, and potentially impact voter sentiment in the region.
3. **Legal and Administrative Challenges**: The requirement for the WMATA to amend the Compact and change its name could lead to legal and administrative challenges. The process of amending the Compact may involve lengthy negotiations between member jurisdictions and could be met with resistance from local governments or stakeholders who oppose the name change. This could delay necessary funding and improvements to the transit system, negatively impacting the daily lives of residents who depend on efficient transportation.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3660 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3660
To prohibit any Federal funds from being provided to the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority until such Authority is renamed the
Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2025
Mr. Steube introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit any Federal funds from being provided to the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority until such Authority is renamed the
Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Make Autorail Great Again Act''.
SEC. 2. RENAMING.
(a) In General.--No Federal funds may be provided to the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority until the Compact is amended to
rename the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as the
``Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access'' or the
``WMAGA'' and the Metrorail as the ``Trump Train''.
(b) Compact Defined.--In this section, the term ``Compact'' means
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact, known as
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact, consented
to by Congress under Public Law 89-774 (80 Stat. 1324 et seq.).
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