Though the most recent news seems to suggest this may be just a "clean non-controversial" CR until December 13 with what you suggest - just a continuation of basic funding. We'll then hopefully see a larger deal during the lame duck period where hopefully they will pass relief that deals with this so Amtrak can reverse the cuts maybe after the new year. The more I read there does not appear to be a leadership desire to make any waves before the election as bad as that could be for transit and airline workers facing massive layoffs and other segments of the economy that need relief. It would appear that the impending cuts are now unstoppable at least for the fall. Hopefully Amtrak has the cash on hand to operate with only level funding as they are planning until December and dont have to make even deeper cuts. Amtrak management has mentioned they need over a billion over their normal appropriation to do the current planned 3x a week and planned furloughs - hopefully they have enough cash to get through a CR period until they find out what they are going to get for the full FY21. Only level funding for the full fiscal year could result in the cancellations of all long distance trains except for the Auto Train as well as deep cuts to corridor service (including train offs on some corridors.)
Unfortunately the death of Justice Ginsburg complicates things as the process of replacing her on the court will steal a lot of attention in the Senate even though more COVID relief is probably a much more urgent matter than filling the vacancy.
Unfortunately the death of Justice Ginsburg complicates things as the process of replacing her on the court will steal a lot of attention in the Senate even though more COVID relief is probably a much more urgent matter than filling the vacancy.