Why It Matters

CSX Transportation Inc. has filed a new lobbying registration disclosure with Holland & Knight LLP, bringing on the firm to cover railroads and budget and appropriations issues in 2026. This registration adds Holland & Knight to its advocacy portfolio at a moment when Congress is actively debating railroad safety regulations, track inspection requirements, and freight rail service standards. The lobbying team Holland & Knight has assembled carries direct committee experience in transportation and appropriations, giving CSX a well-connected presence on Capitol Hill.

Broader Context

The disclosure lists two broad issue areas: Railroads and Budget/Appropriations. No specific legislation or specific issues are identified in the filing.

The registration comes as Congress has been active on freight rail policy. The  Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety held a hearing in June 2025 titled "On the Right Track: Modernizing America's Rail Network," examining freight and passenger rail efficiency, safety, and the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), who chaired the relevant subcommittee, framed the hearing around regulatory modernization and rural connectivity.

On the regulatory front, the Association of American Railroads sought a waiver from the Federal Railroad Administration that would reduce human track safety inspections in favor of automated technology. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and 11 Democratic colleagues pushed back, writing to the FRA to oppose the waiver and warning it could reduce oversight of track safety defects.

CSX itself has been in the news. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced in June 2025 that CSX agreed to repair the Gillett Road Bridge in Monroe County, New York, after months of advocacy. The bridge had been closed since December 2023 due to structural failures, and the New York State Department of Transportation had issued a red flag warning to CSX over the structural conditions. Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL-4) attended the groundbreaking of a CSX Hazardous Materials Training Institute in August 2025, and Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-7), Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, visited CSX's Davis Yard in Leland, North Carolina that same month.

The new client registration lists three lobbyists from Holland & Knight:

  • Kara Fischer, Partner, with prior experience on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
  • Liam McEnroe, Senior Public Affairs Adviser, with prior experience in the office of Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
  • Mike Friedberg, Partner, with prior experience on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Between the Lines

Several pieces of legislation relevant to freight rail have moved through Congress in the past year. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Secure Tracks Act in March 2026, which would require railroads to maintain human track inspectors alongside automated inspection technology. Sens. Baldwin and Roger Marshall (R-KS) also introduced the Reliable Rail Service Act in June 2025, which would strengthen Surface Transportation Board oversight and clarify freight railroads' common carrier obligations. Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17) introduced the Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies (HOWIE) Act in March 2026 to update existing railroad regulations with a focus on safety and transparency.

On the appropriations side, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, highlighted freight rail's economic role during Rail Day 2026 in March, signaling continued attention to rail funding at the subcommittee level with direct jurisdiction over transportation appropriations.

The Bottom Line

CSX is adding outside counsel at a time when freight rail faces a crowded legislative agenda, from track inspection mandates to service reliability standards to surface transportation reauthorization. Holland & Knight's team brings relevant committee backgrounds in both transportation and appropriations, the two issue areas listed in the filing.

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