It's not as well known as the Federal Reserve or the CDC, but the Surface Transportation Board is the latest agency in the Trump administration's sites as the president extends his power across the federal government, including agencies and institutions long considered independent.

The board wields enormous authority over the nation's railroads, and President Trump abruptly fired Robert Primus,

one of only two Democrats on the five-member board, just as regulators weigh the largest railroad merger

ever proposed. Robert Primus joins us now. Thanks for being here. Thank you for having me.

So you're a Democrat who was nominated for the role by President Trump back in 2020.

And you were fired without cause, the White House only saying that you did not align with

the President's America First Agenda. What's your response to that?

The first response was surprise. The second was disappointment. If you looked at my record

in the four and a half years, I've

been on the board. I think I was America first before the president came into office. From

my first day I was there, I was pro-growth. And pro-growth meaning encouraging the growth

of energy sectors, whether it be oil, whether coal, gas, ethanol, agriculture, chemical, manufacturing,

all those are key components to our economy, and all those move via freight rail.

And I've said then, and I've continued to say that, you know, the way to grow this country

and grow this economy is to grow our freight

rail network. And so when I heard that somehow I was against the America First, I was

surprised because, you know, I was first to do that.

And we should say this dismissal comes, as we said, a pivotal merger is looming. Union

Pacific's plan to $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern.

Your removal changes the board's makeup just as that decision approaches. What does the administration gain by having you out of the way?

Well, I mean, as I still consider myself a board member, so I can't comment on the merger.

But what I think it does, it challenges the integrity of the board.

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