In largely overlooked remarks delivered last year in Paris, Vice President JD Vance delivered a policy master class on the industrial promise of artificial intelligence and the conditions required for innovation to flourish. The Staggers Rail Act freed the railroads to live up to those expectations again, spurring competition and innovation by reducing burdensome regulations. The most significant gains in rail safety have come from technological advancement, not government regulation. The information age brought massive improvements in rail operations, including computer-aided dispatch, radio frequency identification monitoring and infrared wayside detectors. The East Palestine derailment was a genuine tragedy, and it is understandable that well-meaning federal officials would overreact.

Source: Washington Post March 16, 2026 19:16 UTC