Trump fires Democratic Surface Transportation Board member before huge rail merger decision Politics Aug 28, 2025 6:47 PM EDT

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 E. 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 its decision on the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger though the Senate would have to confirm them.

READ MORE: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern in merger talks to create coast-to-c

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