Trump fires Democrat rail regulator as board set to weigh mega-merger
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President Trump fired Robert Primus, a member of the railroad regulatory board set to consider Union Pacific's proposed $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern.
Why it matters: The Democrat was the only Surface Transportation Board member to oppose Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern's merger in 2023.
What they're saying: Primus plans to challenge his firing, which he called "deeply troubling and legally invalid" in a LinkedIn post.
- "Ironically, this comes at a time when the Board is considering significant pressing matters of critical importance to both our national freight rail network and supply chain that would directly affect large swaths of our manufacturing, agricultural, industrial and energy sectors," he wrote.
- "Robert Primus did not align with the President's America First agenda, and was terminated from his position by the White House. The Administration intends to nominate new, more qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board in short order," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in an email.
- "It would be a mistake to replace Mr. Primus with a member who caters only to powerful carriers that prioritize profits over the long-term success of the industry," the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department said in a statement, adding that it "urges President Trump to reverse course immediately."
Catch up quick: Primus was nominated by Trump to the bipartisan board in 2020 and unanimously confirmed by a Republican-led Senate.
- He was renominated by President Biden and unanimously confirmed by a Democrat-led Senate in 2022.
- "I have worked tirelessly to build bipartisan trust and have demonstrated myself to be truly an independent Board member that has consistently rendered fair and impartial decisions," he wrote on LinkedIn.
Between the lines: Trump could have stacked the deck in favor of the Union Pacific deal without firing Primus.
- The five-seat board had been politically split 2-2 with a vacancy that the president could've filled with a friendly deciding vote.
- Instead, the STB's website now features three board members: Chairman Patrick Fuchs and members Michelle Schultz and Karen Hedlund.
State of play: If approved, the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern deal could reshape U.S. supply chains by creating a transcontinental railroad that aims to coax more shippers to use trains instead of trucks.
Colin's thought bubble: The firing of a Democrat rail regulator demonstrates the deal — and the review process — has captured the president's attention.
STB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and has been updated to add comment from the White House and a major rail union.
