Administration announces dismissal of transportation authority leader in ongoing effort to restructure Trump's administration
In a series of moves that have shaken up several federal agencies and the transportation sector, the Trump administration has been making significant changes over the past few years.
On Wednesday, Susan Monarez, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was fired by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, access to government devices belonging to Robert Primus was shut off the same evening. Primus, a member of the Surface Transportation Board, was reportedly fired by The White House, with the Presidential Personnel Office, now run by Dan Scavino, not offering a reason for Primus' dismissal.
Primus, who was confirmed to the Surface Transportation Board in the final months of President Donald Trump's first term, served as its chairman during the Biden administration. Prior to his role on the board, Primus worked with several Democratic members of Congress.
The Surface Transportation Board began the regulatory review process for a proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern railroad companies, a deal announced in July at a price tag of $85 billion. The White House's move to exert control over agencies across the federal government, including independent ones, has been a recurring theme during Trump's tenure.
The proposed railway merger is still under review by the Surface Transportation Board, with Primus planning to continue his duties and explore legal options if prevented. The fired member, Robert Primus, announced his termination on LinkedIn, while the White House stated that Primus did not align with the President's America First agenda.
The White House has also made headlines for firing multiple officials from various agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Librarian of Congress, the U.S. Copyright Office, the National Labor Relations Board, the NLRB's general counsel, the head of the ethics watchdog, the Office of Special Counsel, and the head of the National Archives.
In a related development, the Trump administration in January 2021 dismissed Dr. Lisa Cook from her position on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, citing "sufficient reasons" for her immediate removal. Dr. Cook later sued Trump over her removal. The Supreme Court has previously handed Trump a win in legal battles over his firings of independent agency members.
A new chairman was appointed at the start of Trump's second term, marking another change in the leadership of the Surface Transportation Board. As the administration continues to reshape federal agencies and the transportation sector, these changes are likely to have lasting impacts on policy and regulation in the United States.
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