House reps request FRA briefing on rail cargo theft

U.S. House Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and 23 of his colleagues are asking the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration to present a briefing on the state of freight-rail cargo theft and how the FRA is combatting it.

In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feely, Webster — who chairs the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials — highlighted recent reports showing cargo theft incidents have soared in recent years. 

In 2024, there were over 65,000 incidents of cargo theft with losses exceeding $100 million, Webster wrote.

"[T] committee is alarmed by the rising number of incidents that disrupt commerce, impose significant economic costs and present serious safety and national security concerns," the letter states.

The lawmakers also expressed concern over the sophistication of cargo theft operations, including sabotaged brake systems, insider leaks and cross-border criminal networks.