WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Jim Justice (WV) introduced S. 5450, bipartisan legislation to address persistent shortages of federal workers who are critical to ensuring the safety of our nation’s railroads.. The bill would increase the pay levels for Federal Rail Administration (FRA) inspectors and specialists for the first time since 1979. The bipartisan bill aims to strengthen and expand the critical rail safety inspector and specialist workforce while supporting safer rail operations.
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 leaves them one full pay level below comparable federal accident-investigation positions. These critical workers earn less than employees doing comparable jobs at other agencies – resulting in persistent recruitment and retention challenges for the agency.
“The United States railway system is critical to the success of our entire economy. Federal railroad inspectors play a vital role in maintaining that system by ensuring railroad tracks, equipment, and operating practices remain safe and secure,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports. “Making sure we can recruit and retain highly skilled professionals for this essential workforce will improve railway safety in communities across the country. This bipartisan, commonsense bill would help us do just that by providing federal rail inspectors with more competitive wages for the critical work they do.”
The current rail safety staffing numbers underscore the urgency of this issue. As of now, the FRA has approximately 74 operating practices (OP) inspectors, 49 signal and train control inspectors, 23 grade crossing (GX) inspectors, 77 mechanical inspectors, 66 track inspectors, and 47 hazardous materials inspectors—totaling 336 inspectors. However, it is important to note that a portion of these 336 inspectors are either performing temporary details in other non-enforcement capacities or are engaged in on-the-job training (OJT) as they work toward their journeyman certification. As a result, they are not performing independent regulatory oversight functions.
In some cases, territories that nearly encompass entire states have remained vacant and have lacked any consistent regulatory safety oversight for well over a year. These prolonged vacancies leave critical gaps in enforcement and put the safety of rail workers, communities, and the traveling public at greater risk.
“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,” AFGE Local 2814 President Scott 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.”
The FRA reached a staffing peak last year only to see 11 inspectors leave within eight months for jobs paying higher wages.
“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 legislation is supported by key stakeholders including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFGE Local 2814, and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.
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