The Democratic member of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board that President Donald Trump fired ahead of the group considering the largest rail merger ever filed a lawsuit challenging his dismissal as illegal.

Robert Primus, who had served on the board since 2001, said the White House never even gave him a reason for his Aug. 28 firing that threatens the independence of the five-member STB. His termination happened before the board got a chance to start reviewing Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern to create the first true transcontinental railroad.

“Our country’s supply chain demands that the board be independent and transparent. Congress mandated it 138 years ago,” Primus said. “Failure to do so will negatively affect the network: railroads, shippers,

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