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Trump dismissed Democratic board member Robert Primus from STB

Move shifts balance ahead of $85B Union Pacific – Norfolk Southern merger

Primus criticized firing as unlawful and harmful to rail competition

Nation’s largest rail union condemned the decision as corporate influence

President Donald Trump has fired one of two Democratic members of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to break a 2-2 tie before the body considers the largest railroad merger ever proposed.

Board member Robert Primus said on LinkedIn that he received an email from the White House Wednesday night terminating the position he has held since he was appointed by Trump in his first term. The vacancy would allow Trump to appoint two additional Republicans to the board before i

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