Ohio train derailment: Republicans and Trump ‘owe East Palestine an apology,’ White House says
Katherine Doyle
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The White House lashed out at Republicans over the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, charging that the GOP worked alongside rail industry lobbyists to undo safety regulations during the Trump administration.
The attack comes as former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine on Wednesday, as the Biden administration faces a swell of criticism over its response to the Feb. 3 derailment.
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“Congressional Republicans and former Trump administration officials owe East Palestine an apology for selling them out to rail industry lobbyists when they dismantled Obama-Biden rail safety protections as well as EPA powers to rapidly contain spills,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates.
Bates challenged Republican lawmakers to put the protections back into effect, increase fines, and boost Environmental Protection Agency funding.
“There is only one way they can prove that they are finally disowning their long history of giveaways to rail industry management at the expense of communities like East Palestine: work across the aisle with us to put Obama-Biden protections back in place and go further, including with higher fines for rail pollution and properly equipping the EPA,” he said.
In a 2021 letter surfaced by the White House, more than 20 Republican Senators asked the Federal Railroad Administration to waive human track inspections and increase automation. The White House writes that “this was a priority of the rail lobby at the time.”
According to Politico, “Trump’s administration withdrew an Obama-era proposal to require faster brakes on trains carrying highly flammable materials, ended regular rail safety audits of railroads, and mothballed a pending rule requiring freight trains to have at least two crew members.”
Republicans have questioned President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis as he traveled overseas to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg comes under increasing fire.
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Trump’s appearance in East Palestine highlights the split, with the Republican candidate making an appeal to the communities that helped elect him in 2016 as he prepares to again face off against Biden.
Asked on Wednesday about his message to Biden, Trump said, “Get over here.”