White House: Railway shutdown would be unacceptable

The Biden administration on Tuesday said it’s working with shippers, truckers and air-freight companies in the event of a freight-rail strike that could begin later this week. The White House is “working with other modes of transportation…to see how they can step in and keep goods moving” if rail workers strike at the end of the week, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “A shutdown is not acceptable, not something we want,” she said. President Joe Biden was reportedly briefed on the matter Tuesday morning, after he called the carriers and unions on Monday to press them to accept a deal.