U.S. Transportation Secretary calls on Gov. Shapiro for urgent SEPTA intervention, Shapiro responds

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October 24th, 2025 | By Ryan Genova

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter this week asking Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township to secure stable funding for SEPTA.

Duffy accused SEPTA of “mismanagement” and “neglect” in the letter. SEPTA is facing an October 31 deadline to complete a federally mandated inspection of its Silverliner IV railcars following a series of fires.

“The gross mismanagement and neglect of Pennsylvania’s rail and bus systems is alarming,” Duffy wrote. “As the head of the state, I’m calling on Josh Shapiro to oversee the safety of riders and transit workers. It’s time to get SEPTA’s fiscal house in order.”

The Federal Rail Administration gave SEPTA 30 days to inspect all 223 Silverliner IV railcars. As of Thursday night, 82 have been finished, 6ABC said. Officials are discussing their options and may file for an extension.

“We have an old fleet. The oldest in the country,” SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said.

FOX29 obtained the following statement from Governor Shapiro’s spokesperson, Rosie Lapowsky:

Governor Shapiro has been fighting for additional recurring revenue to support SEPTA for the last two years – and as part of last year’s budget, he secured $46 million in new funding for SEPTA. His budget proposal this year once again included $167 million for SEPTA but Senate Republicans in Harrisburg have refused to support nearly 800,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on the system every day and continue to hold up our state budget. Instead of issuing a press release, if Secretary Duffy actually wants to be helpful, he should call his fellow Republicans and get them to fund the Governor’s mass transit funding package for SEPTA. We would be happy to provide their phone numbers.

The letter is below:

secretary-duffy-letter-to-gov-shapiro-on-septaDownload

Shapiro responded today on social media:

I secured $46 million for SEPTA last year.

I flexed $153 million from highway projects to keep SEPTA from going under.

And I called for $165 million in new sustainable funding for SEPTA in my budget plan this year — but Harrisburg Republicans refuse to get it done.

@Secretary Sean Duffy, if you want to be helpful here, call your fellow Republicans and tell them to bring this to my desk.

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