WASHINGTON — The White House announced on Thursday that it has dismissed a member of the Surface Transportation Board. This action occurs as the agency is evaluating a proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroad companies.
“Earlier this evening, I received communication from the White House stating the termination of my role at the Surface Transportation Board,” Robert Primus shared in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday. “This is deeply troubling and lacks legal basis.”
As initially reported by The Wall Street Journal, Primus’ termination coincides with the White House’s increased efforts to oversee various federal agencies, including those traditionally viewed as independent.
Primus expressed in his post that he intends to “continue fulfilling my responsibilities as a Board member and will consider legal avenues if I am obstructed from doing so.”
The Presidential Personnel Office — which will now be led by longtime Trump aide Dan Scavino — did not provide a rationale for Primus’ removal, according to an email reviewed by MSNBC. A staff member, Mary Sprowls, stated that Primus’ role ended “effective immediately.” His access to government devices was reportedly disabled on Wednesday evening, as per sources familiar with the situation.
Reached for comment, a White House spokesperson did not provide a specific reason for Primus’ firing.
“Robert Primus did not adhere to the President’s America First agenda, leading to his dismissal by the White House,” stated White House spokesperson Kush Desai. “The administration plans to appoint new, more qualified members to the Surface Transportation Board promptly.”
MSNBC has reached out to the Surface Transportation Board for comment.
The Surface Transportation Board began the regulatory review process for the proposed railway merger in July, after Union Pacific announced that it would acquire Norfolk Southern at a price tag of $85 billion.
The deal, which would create the nation’s first transcontinental railroad, is still under review by the board. The proposal has faced pushback from labor unions and sparked controversy over its potential impact on competition in the railroad industry.
Primus’ term was set to end in 2027, according to the board’s website. He was first confirmed to the board in the final months of President Donald Trump’s first term, and he became the chairman during the Biden administration. The Trump administration appointed a new member as chairman at the start of his second term.
Before joining the Surface Transportation Board, Primus worked with several Democratic members of Congress.
The Trump administration has increasingly moved to exert more control over agencies, working to oust officials who the White House deems insufficient to carry out the president’s agenda. Earlier this week, Trump announced he was moving to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, although Cook’s attorneys said she would sue.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez, prompting several other top health officials to exit the agency in protest.
In January, Trump fired two Democratic commissioners at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In March, he fired two Democratic commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission. In May, Trump fired the Librarian of Congress, moving on days later to fire the head of the U.S. Copyright Office.
