In a significant move to reshape the regulatory landscape of U.S. transportation, the Trump administration has terminated Robert Primus, a Democratic member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which is currently reviewing a major railroad merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. This dismissal has raised concerns among industry observers and labor organizations about the implications for transportation policy and regulation. Critics label the firing as part of a broader strategy to influence regulatory decisions ahead of crucial merger evaluations, while the White House defends the action as necessary for bringing in a new leadership team. The controversy surrounding this dismissal is highlighted by various responses, including a condemnation from the SMART-TD union that termed the removal unprecedented.