Pete Buttigieg Visits East Palestine to Discuss Rail Safety and Criticize Railroad Industry

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced plans on Monday to visit East Palestine, Ohio, in the wake of a train derailment that has left local residents questioning the safety of their soil, air and water.

Buttigieg also announced new efforts by his agency to improve rail safety, including a call for freight rail companies like Norfolk Southern to maintain a higher standard of safety and take better care of their workers. He also referred to past common practices of transportation secretaries by deferring first to the National Safety Transportation Board after a major disaster like the derailment.

Buttigieg also took the opportunity to criticize the railroad industry for opposing safety reforms and shot back at his GOP critics during the call. He said that he was “very interested in getting to know the residents of East Palestine, hearing from them about how they’ve been impacted and communicating with them about the steps that we’re taking.”

The Transportation Secretary’s proposals come as the National Safety Transportation Board continues to investigate the cause of the derailment in East Palestine. The NTSB is expected to issue its final report in the coming months. In the meantime, Buttigieg said he plans to visit the town “when the time is right” to meet with local residents and discuss the steps his agency is taking to improve rail safety.