ESTABLISHING A SECOND EMERGENCY BOARD TO INVESTIGATE DISPUTES BETWEEN THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMPANY AND CERTAIN OF ITS EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY CERTAIN LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

This Executive Order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 14, 2026, establishes a second Presidential Emergency Board to resolve ongoing labor disputes between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and five major labor unions.The dispute involves the LIRR and the following unions:Transportation Communications UnionBrotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and TrainmenBrotherhood of Railroad SignalmenInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace WorkersInternational Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersA first emergency board was established in September 2025, but its recommendations were not accepted by all parties. Consequently, a second board has been requested and mandated under Section 9A of the Railway Labor Act (RLA).Establishment: The Board—consisting of three neutral members appointed by the President—will officially begin its work at 12:01 a.m. on January 16, 2026.Settlement Process:Within 30 days of the Board's creation, the LIRR and the unions must submit their "final offers" for a settlement.Within 30 days after receiving those offers, the Board must submit a report to the President selecting the offer it deems "most reasonable."Maintaining the Status Quo: To prevent a strike or lockout, all parties are prohibited from changing the conditions of employment (except by mutual agreement) from the time the board was requested until 60 days after the Board submits its report.Termination: The Board will dissolve immediately after submitting its report to the President.The order serves as a federal intervention to prevent a significant disruption to commuter rail service in the New York metropolitan area. By invoking the "final offer" selection process, the administration aims to force both the LIRR and the unions toward a reasonable compromise under the framework of the Railway Labor Act.BackgroundKey Provisions of the OrderConclusion