January 18, 2022

Van Hollen Statement on WMATA General Manager & CEO Paul Wiedefeld Announcing Retirement

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager & CEO Paul Wiedefeld’s announced retirement:

“Paul Wiedefeld was dealt a difficult hand, but in his six years at WMATA he has worked hard to navigate the many challenges facing the agency. I have appreciated his efforts to collaborate with Metro’s federal partners in the process as we worked to secure critical federal funding with the goal of enabling the nation’s transit system to better serve Marylanders, area residents, and visitors.

“The next head of WMATA must continue working to rebuild trust among its ridership by putting safety and transparency first while improving reliability. This is no small task, but continued progress is critical to deliver the level of service and safety our constituents deserve.”