August 14, 2025
Cleveland, Ohio - The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) is deeply concerned by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) sudden decision to terminate all current members of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC). RSAC, established in 1996, has long been the FRA’s proven mechanism for collaborative safety rulemaking and policy development. Comprised of representatives from FRA, railroads, labor unions, suppliers, and other critical stakeholder groups, RSAC members provide expert, front-line perspectives that directly inform safety rule development on the regulatory level.
RSAC is not a bureaucratic obstacle; it is a vital forum where corporations, workers, and the public work together on pragmatic solutions to keep people safe as they move trains. Recent committees have addressed urgent challenges such as wayside defect detectors (a factor in the East Palestine disaster) and roadway worker protections.
These discussions are grounded in operational realities, not political talking points. So, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) claim that RSAC was “overrun with individuals whose sole focus is their radical DEI and climate agenda” is nothing more than a brazen distraction through political divisiveness. RSAC’s mission is to address immediate safety issues, not debates over diversity initiatives or climate policy.
The DOT spokesman also cited a lack of recent committee meetings as further justification for the terminations, even though it is their own agency’s responsibility to convene them. This contradiction, coupled with a vaguely expressed intent of “updating” committee membership without any timeline, casts serious doubts on the true motivations of the move.
ATDA President Ed Dowell expressed concern, saying: “I am alarmed by the FRA’s irrational and misguided decision to terminate all RSAC members. This committee has been a vital forum for collaboration, where the voices of those who work on the front lines of railroad operations, like train dispatchers, are heard and valued on a variety of important safety issues including Train Dispatcher Certification and FRA’s “Confidential Close Call Reporting System.” The safety of our railroads depends on the collective expertise and input of all stakeholders, and this decision risks sidelining the critical insights of those who ensure the safe and efficient movement of trains every day. We call on the DOT to reaffirm its commitment to safety by restoring a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.”
