Buttigieg vows to ‘hold Norfolk Southern accountable’ as criticism mounts over response to train derailment

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg vowed to “hold Norfolk Southern accountable” on Sunday amid harsh criticism over the federal government’s response to the company’s train derailment earlier this month in East Palestine, Ohio.

In a letter to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, Buttigieg wrote that the railroad “must fulfill its obligation to save residents” after a train carrying toxic chemicals crashed on February 3.

“Now is the perfect time for Norfolk Southern to lead the rail industry by moving to a position that is focused on supporting, not undermining, efforts to raise the standard of safety regulation on US railroads,” Buttigieg wrote in the letter.

“It is imperative that your company be unambiguous and straightforward in its commitment to caring for residents – now and in the future.”

This drone photo shows parts of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

A spokesperson for Norfolk Southern told Fox News Digital that they have received the letter from Buttigieg and are looking into it.

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On Saturday, Shaw visited East Palestine and met with local authorities, Norfolk Southern employees living in the city, and first responders.

“In every conversation today, I shared how deeply sorry this happened to their home,” Shaw said in a statement Saturday. “We are going to do the right thing to help East Palestine recover and prosper again.”

About 50 railroad cars, including 10 loaded with toxic chemicals, derailed on the evening of Feb. 3 in East Palestine, a small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

Three days later, officials controlled the release of vinyl chloride from some vehicles to avoid an explosion that released hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air.

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Buttigieg was condemned by local authorities, East Palestinians and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for waiting 10 days to resolve the crash.

“Progress is being made, but we have a long way to go to make sure people here get their questions answered,” Ohio Rep. Bill Johnson, representing East Palestine, told Fox News Digital. on Saturday. “I’m giving Secretary Buttigieg an A… I mean he didn’t show up.”

An environmental company cleans up dead fish downstream of a train derailment that caused people to be evacuated from their homes in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S. February 6, 2023. (REUTERS/Alan Fried./File photo)

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Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va., said it was “unacceptable that it took nearly two weeks for a senior administration official to show up.”

“I call on President Biden, Administrator Reagan and Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg to provide a full picture of the damage and a comprehensive plan to ensure community support in the coming weeks, months and years to ensure that this type of accident does not happen again. Manchin said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.