Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration was created pursuant to section 3(e)(1) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (49 U.S.C. 103).
- Civilian staff, August 2026
- 946
- −19.3% in a year
- Rules made final this year
- 24
- 6 proposed
- Organizations that lobbied it
- 220
- 2019 to 2026
Where its power comes from
An agency can act only where a law lets it. These are the laws its rules cite, where its rules live, and the bills that would change it.
Laws it carries out
The U.S. Code sections its rules of the last six years cite as their authority, most cited first, of 55.
- Mode of recovery
- Inspection and investigation
- General authority
- Chapter 201 general violations
- Willfulness requirement for penalties against individuals
- Records and reports
- Definitions
- Passenger cars
- Minimum training standards and plans
- Licensing or certification of locomotive operators
- Requirements for use
- Power brake safety
Its rulebook
Where the rules it wrote these six years sit in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Track record
What it made final, the cases it brought, and where Congress moved to undo its work.
Latest final rules
The newest rules it made final.
- National Environmental Policy Act RegulationsSep 1
- Permitting Use of Computer-Based, Three-Dimensional Simulation for Periodic Refresher Training on Brake SystemsAug 31
- Miscellaneous Amendments to FRA's Accident Reporting RegulationsAug 31
- Retiring Form FRA F 6180.107 and Form FRA F 6180.150Aug 31
- Regulatory Relief for End of Car Cushioning UnitsAug 31
- Amendments to Brake System Maintenance and Inspection RequirementsAug 31
- Expanding Certain Locomotive Wheel Set Diameter VariationsAug 31
- Repealing Outdated Railroad Workplace Safety Requirements and Making Other ImprovementsAug 31
Who runs it
Its leaders
- David FinkAdministrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
Who pays to be heard
- American Chemistry Council$99.9M on reports naming it
- BNSF Railway Company$22.4M on reports naming it
- Siemens Corporation$16.2M on reports naming it
- David FinkAdministrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
- Department of TransportationThe department it sits in
- American Chemistry CouncilLobbied it, $99.9M
- BNSF Railway CompanyLobbied it, $22.4M
- Siemens CorporationLobbied it, $16.2M
- Norfolk Southern CorporationLobbied it, $15.6M
Its leaders
The people the Senate last confirmed to its offices, one record per office. A confirmation date is not proof someone still serves.
Who tries to sway it
Who names it on federal lobbying reports, 2019 to 2026, and who used to work there. Naming an agency is the filer’s account of where work was aimed, not a record of a meeting.
Who pays to be heard
The biggest spenders on reports that name it. A report names several issues, so each figure is the whole report.
- American Chemistry Council$99.9M
- BNSF Railway Company$22.4M
- Siemens Corporation$16.2M
- Norfolk Southern Corporation$15.6M
- Union Pacific Corporation$14.7M
- CSX Corporation$14.2M
- American Public Transportation Association$13M
- The Fertilizer Institute$10.6M
- Transportation Trades Department Afl-Cio$10.2M
- Renewable Fuels Association$10.2M
- Association of American Railroads$9.5M
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers$7.75M
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen$6.87M
- Canadian National Railway Company$5.68M
- Omnitrax, Inc.$5.64M
- Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.$5.21M
- American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association$4.33M
- Land O'lakes, Inc.$3.59M
- Transport Workers Union of America, Afl-Cio$2.9M
- International Association of Fire Fighters$2.79M
Who files the lobbying
The firms on reports that name it, by how many clients they filed for.
- Tai Ginsberg & Associates, LLC16 clients
- Viking Navigation LLC16 clients
- Holland & Knight LLP11 clients
- H.A. Cumber & Company, Inc.7 clients
- Blank Rome Government Relations7 clients
- Peyser Associates LLC6 clients
- Covino Smith & Simon, Inc.5 clients
- Chambers, Conlon & Hartwell, LLC5 clients
- Carpi & Clay, Inc.5 clients
- Summit Strategies Government Affairs LLC4 clients
- K&L Gates, LLP4 clients
- HB Strategies3 clients
- Squire Patton Boggs3 clients
- Potomac Partners DC3 clients
- Smith Garson3 clients
- CJ Lake, LLC3 clients
- Carmen Group Incorporated3 clients
- Capitaledge Strategies, LLC3 clients
- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC3 clients
- Mr. Ray Chambers3 clients
Former staff now lobbying
Lobbyists whose filings list a past job here.
In the news
Reporting that may mention this subject. Possible matches are labeled.
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