Surface Transportation Board Member Robert Primus on Trump's Attempted Firing

Attempted Termination and Surprise

• 📌 Robert Primus, a member of the Surface Transportation Board, describes his attempted termination as "deeply troubling and legally invalid."
• 📧 He received a two-sentence email from the Office of Presidential Personnel stating his position was terminated, with no cause given.
• 😮 Primus expressed surprise at the news, stating he was unaware of any disagreements or communications from the White House indicating this was coming.

"America First Agenda" Discrepancy

• 🇺🇸 The White House commented that Primus was not in line with the "America First agenda," a claim he disputes.
• 📈 Primus asserts that for his four and a half years on the board, he has been pro-growth and pro-America, citing recent engagements with coal miners, manufacturers, and the agricultural sector.
• 💡 He highlights his work in discussing how to move growth onto America's freight rail network.

Concerns on Rail Mergers and Consolidation

• 🚆 Primus has expressed concern about further consolidation in the rail industry, citing his vote against the CPKC merger.
• 📉 He is worried about the impact of mergers on competition, shippers, and rates.
• 💰 Increased rates can lead to higher consumer prices and have historically resulted in significant losses in production costs for the American economy.
• ⚠️ He also notes the tendency for service problems to arise after mergers, which have negatively affected consumers and the production base.