Pete Buttigieg’s Transportation Department has not moved to revive an Obama-era safety rule that could help prevent future train accidents.
by Julia Rock and Rebecca Burns, The Lever
In the aftermath of a fiery Ohio train derailment, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s department has not moved to reinstate an Obama-era rail safety rule aimed at expanding the use of better braking technology, even though a former federal safety official recently warned Congress that without the better brakes, “there will be more derailments [and] more releases of hazardous materials.”
Instead, transportation regulators have been considering a rail-industry-backed proposal that could weaken existing brake safety rules.

Most of the nation’s freight trains — including the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Ohio — continue to rely on a Civil War-era braking system. Norfolk Southern belongs to a lobby group that successfully pressed President Donald Trump to repeal a 2015 rule requiring newer, safer electronic braking systems in some trains transporting hazardous materials, The Lever reported Wednesday.
The Department of Transportation’s most recent regulatory agenda — which lists all planned, proposed, and final rules — does not include an ECP brake rule.
Recent Posts
Spain Convenes International Conference To Call For Arms Embargo On Israel
June 3, 2025
Take Action Now Madrid’s foreign minister said, “The sole interest that all of us gathered here today have is to stop this unjust, cruel, and…
Ukraine, Russia Both Uninterested In Peace At Recent Summit
June 3, 2025
Take Action Now The memos reported for each government Monday include positions completely mutually incompatible.By Anatol Lieven, Resonsible…
Hamas: The Enemy Israel Cannot Afford To Lose
June 2, 2025
Take Action Now Four decades of rising homelessness has led many to seek alternative explanations. The most common blames homelessness on drug…
New Book Details How U.S. Normalized Homelessness
June 2, 2025
Take Action Now Four decades of rising homelessness has led many to seek alternative explanations. The most common blames homelessness on drug…