Gleason, who hails from the Johnstown, Pa., area, fills the last vacancy and a state-supported route slot, though at his Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing last May he stressed Amtrak’s importance to “bringing better passenger rail service to small towns across America” [“Amtrak board nominee Gleason voices strong support … ” May 13, 2025]. This has been an increasing source of friction between the sponsoring entities and Amtrak, which lawmakers are being pressed to address. Fink confirmation delayedMeanwhile, the Senate has still not voted to confirm David Fink as Federal Railroad Administrator. The former president of PanAm Railways was grilled at the same May 13, 2025, confirmation hearing as Gleason. During that time, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy eliminated the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) with the justification, among other reasons, to “refocus advisory committees on what matters” [see “FRA disbands Railroad Safety Advisory Committee,” Trains.com Aug 13, 2025].