U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has introduced legislation that would block federal funding to Washington’s Metro system unless it undergoes a politically charged rebranding, including renaming it the ‘Trump Train.’
Under the Make Autorail Great Again Act, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), would be required to change its name to the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and rebrand the Metrorail system as the Trump Train.
Until these changes are made, the agency would be barred from receiving roughly 150 million USD annually, which it typically gets in federal support.
Critics are already calling this proposed measure a means of political theatre, but Steube frames it as a serious attempt to link federal dollars to performance benchmarks and cultural values.
Rep. Steube said:WMATA has received billions in federal assistance over the years and continues to face operational, safety, and fiscal challenges. 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.
With Washington, D.C. preparing to host major global events such as the 2027 NFL Draft and multiple FIFA Club World Cup matches, our capital’s transit system must meet the highest standards. The American people expect modern, reliable, and well-managed public services in their nation’s capital. This bill leverages federal funding to ensure the transit system earns the right to represent the nation on the world stage.
The full bill text can be accessed here.
