Statement on Trump Firing of STB Board Member

For Immediate Release (25-13)

August 28, 2025

Contact: Joe Aiello ([email protected])

Rail Passengers Association Statement on Trump Firing Key Rail Regulator

Washington, D.C.—Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews issued the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s firing of Robert Primus, a member of the Surface Transportation Board, the independent federal agency tasked with providing regulatory oversight of America’s railroads:

“I am deeply troubled by the White House’s decision last night to remove Robert E. Primus from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on the grounds that ‘his views do not align with President Trump's America First agenda.’ That violates the law. Under the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995—the law that established the STB—Board members can only be removed for cause: specifically, inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

“This action raises serious questions about political interference in what is meant to be an independent regulatory agency. STB members are Senate‑confirmed and serve fixed terms precisely to ensure they can base their decisions on the public interest, free from partisan preference. Removing Mr. Primus for policy disagreement undermines that independence and sets a dangerous precedent—not only for the integrity of the STB’s deliberations but also for the broader system of regulatory independence established by Congress.

“This move will hinder the Board’s ability to carry out its duties in a dispassionate and apolitical fashion—a task made all the more critical given the proposed mega-merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.”

Primus is serving his second term to the Board. He was initially nominated by President Donald Trump during President Trump’s first term and unanimously confirmed by a Republican-controlled U.S. Senate. Primus was then renominated by President Joe Biden, and he was again unanimously confirmed, this time by a Democrat-controlled Senate.

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About the Rail Passengers Association: with 127,000 members, donors, and supporters, the non-profit Rail Passengers Association is the oldest and largest national organization serving as a voice for the more than 40 million rail passengers in the U.S. Our mission is to improve and expand conventional intercity and regional passenger train services, support higher speed rail initiatives, increase connectivity among all forms of transportation, and ensure safety for our country's trains and passengers. All of this makes communities safer, more accessible, and more productive, improving the lives of everyone who lives, works, and plays in towns all across America.