U.S. Senate confirms Amit Bose as Administrator of Federal Railroad Administration

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The U.S. Senate made history Jan. 12, 2022, confirming Indian-American Amit Bose as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), a part of the Department of Transportation. Bose becomes the first Indian-American to hold this post and will be involved with the multi-billion dollars in investments to be made in the railways under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Nominated by President Biden on April 22, 2021, Bose currently serves as Deputy Administrator at FRA, and takes over as the 15th Administrator of the FRA.

“From his work with New Jersey Transit to his leadership at FRA during two administrations, Amit has spent his distinguished career supporting America’s railways,”  Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is quoted saying in the press release. “Amit’s experience and expertise will be invaluable as we work to implement the President’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which includes the largest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak,” Buttigieg added.

In his role, Bose will lead FRA’s safety regulatory oversight of more than 800 freight and passenger railroads, national rail policy, planning and environmental activities, as well as the agency’s financial assistance grant programs.

He will also oversee FRA programs to improve and modernize the nation’s freight and passenger rail network by administering an unprecedented $66 billion investment in rail projects under the BIL. Those funds will be supplemented by an additional $36 billion in annual authorized appropriations over five years to support projects and programs that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, resiliency, equity, and sustainability.

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve Secretary Buttigieg and the Biden-Harris Administration,” Bose said. “America’s railroads are an indispensable part of our transportation system and national economy. This is an exciting time to lead approximately 900 FRA employees as we seek to advance America’s second great rail revolution.”

Bose previously worked at HNTB, an architectural and engineering firm,  the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) during the Obama-Biden Administration as FRA’s Director of Governmental Affairs, Senior Advisor, Chief Counsel, and ultimately as Deputy Administrator.

He also served in the Office of the Secretary as Associate General Counsel and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs. In those positions, he worked on numerous safety, policy, and regulatory matters, providing legal counsel, guidance and advice to the Secretary and DOT’s operating administrations. Prior to that time, Bose worked for New Jersey Transit, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, as a transportation staffer in the U.S. Congress, and in private practice in Georgia where he focused on land use, environmental, and municipal law.

Born in Laheriasarai, Bihar, Bose and came to the U.S. at the age of 5. He earned an AB from Columbia College, a MIA from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a JD from the University of Georgia.