White House Says It Fired Transportation Regulator In Latest Move To Reshape Trump's Government

WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday that it has fired a personnel of nan Surface Transportation Board, a move that comes arsenic nan independent national regulatory agency is considering nan proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroad companies.

"Earlier this evening, I received an email from nan White House purporting to terminate my position astatine nan Surface Transportation Board," Robert Primus wrote successful a station to LinkedIn on Wednesday. "This is profoundly troubling and legally invalid."

Primus' termination, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, comes arsenic nan White House has progressively moved to exert power over agencies crossed nan national government, including those considered to beryllium independent.

Primus said successful his station that he planned to "continue to discharge my duties arsenic a personnel of nan Board and, if I’m prevented from doing so, I will research my ineligible options."

The Presidential Personnel Office — which is now group to beryllium tally longtime Trump adjutant Dan Scavino — did not connection a logic for Primus’ dismissal, according to a transcript of nan email seen by MSNBC. Staff personnel Mary Sprowls said that his position arsenic a personnel was terminated “effective immediately.” Access to Primus’ authorities devices was unopen disconnected connected Wednesday evening, according to a personification acquainted pinch matter.

Reached for comment, a White House spokesperson did not supply a circumstantial logic for Primus' firing.

"Robert Primus did not align pinch nan President’s America First agenda, and was terminated from his position by nan White House," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said successful a statement. "The Administration intends to nominate new, much qualified members to nan Surface Transportation Board successful short order."

MSNBC has reached retired to nan Surface Transportation Board for comment.

The Surface Transportation Board began nan regulatory reappraisal process for nan projected railway merger successful July, aft Union Pacific announced that it would get Norfolk Southern astatine a value tag of $85 billion.

The deal, which would create nan nation’s first transcontinental railroad, is still nether reappraisal by nan board. The connection has faced pushback from labour unions and sparked contention complete its imaginable effect connected title successful nan railroad industry.

Primus' word was group to extremity successful 2027, according to nan board's website. He was first confirmed to nan committee successful nan last months of President Donald Trump's first term, and he became nan president during nan Biden administration. The Trump management appointed a caller personnel arsenic president astatine nan commencement of his 2nd term.

Before joining nan Surface Transportation Board, Primus worked with respective Democratic members of Congress.

The Trump management has progressively moved to exert much power complete agencies, moving to oust officials who nan White House deems insufficient to transportation retired nan president's agenda. Earlier this week, Trump announced he was moving to fire Federal Reserve politician Lisa Cook, though Cook's attorneys said she would sue.

On Wednesday, nan Trump management fired Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez, prompting respective different apical wellness officials to exit nan agency successful protest.

In January, Trump fired 2 Democratic commissioners astatine nan Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In March, he fired 2 Democratic commissioners astatine nan Federal Trade Commission. In May, Trump fired the Librarian of Congress, moving connected days later to occurrence nan caput of nan U.S. Copyright Office.