ATU Local 689 issued the following statement on the budget approved by the WMATA Board of Directors. 

The budget approved today would not have been possible without the increased funding from the Compact's partners, and Local 689 commends them for their action. However, it's disappointing that WMATA continues to be the only major transit system in the country without dedicated funding and the Union renews our call for establishing dedicated funding. As we look ahead to implementing this budget and future budgets, it is crucial that WMATA's budget is not balanced on the backs of the frontline pandemic heroes and does not drastically harm the disadvantaged communities that rely on the service. No zeroes for our transit heroes!