Trump Dismisses Transportation Board Member Amid Merger Review
President Trump has removed Robert Primus from his position on the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which is currently evaluating the merger between Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific as part of ongoing federal reforms.
This decision was made on Wednesday, ending Primus’s tenure as a board member. He had been appointed during Trump’s first term in 2020 and began his service the following year.
Primus expressed his concerns, stating, “This is very troubling and legally questionable. Ironically, this dismissal occurs while we are addressing crucial issues related to the national freight rail network and the supply chain that impact various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.” He shared his thoughts in a LinkedIn post.
Primus, who was appointed during the Biden administration, asserted that he had consistently demonstrated independence and worked to foster bipartisan trust in his role. “My time on the board illustrates this, and I truly believe that the White House’s actions will undermine the committee, potentially harming the freight rail network and, by extension, consumers and the economy,” he remarked.
He also indicated his intention to continue fulfilling his responsibilities on the board and hinted at exploring legal options if necessary to do so.
White House spokesman Kush Desai responded, indicating that Primus struggled to align with the president’s American agenda, which led to his dismissal. Desai further noted that the administration plans to appoint new, more qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board soon.
The STB did not provide a comment when contacted. Initial reports about Primus’s firing were made by the Wall Street Journal.
In July, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced plans to merge in an $85 billion deal, aiming to connect a vast 50,000-mile rail network across 43 states and Washington, D.C. The STB, as an independent regulator, is reviewing this proposed merger. Concerns have been voiced, including from the union, regarding potential job cuts stemming from the merger process, with warnings from the US Transportation Union.
Prior to his board role, Primus had worked with several Democratic representatives in Congress. His termination follows recent firings within other agencies by the administration, including staff from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Reserve Commission.
This story was updated at 4:55 pm.
