A strong and independent Surface Transport Board is crucial for protecting US communities, producers and manufacturers from Wall Street attempts to extract excessive short term profits from US railroads at the expense of US workers, businesses and communities. With the largest railroad merger in US history being proposed, a clear lack of standards for rail service undermining US shippers, and a plague of communities and businesses being left behind in order to maximize short term profits, it has never been more important that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) be a strong and independent adjudicatory body.

The STB process must be trustworthy and immune from political favors and interference. The illegal and unprecedented firing of Board member Robert Primus, without cause, represents just the sort of interference that threatens the independence of the STB and legitimacy of its proceedings and rulings. White House lobbying, contributions to the ballroom, and other favors that create even an impression of interference are toxic to the STB process and public trust. Amidst upcoming decisions of the highest consequence, any interference from the White House undermines the confidence and legitimacy and legal authority of STB rulings.

The elected officials whose committees provide direction to the STB and confirm its members are responsible for preserving its legitimacy and independence. It is time to contact U.S. Senate and House members, especially those that serve on the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Instruct those members of Congress to demand that Surface Transportation Board proceedings remain paused - regardless of the status of the government shutdown - until its independence is re-established by the reinstatement of Robert Primus to his rightful position on the board, or the courts resolve this issue.

As Board member Primus states in his lawsuit: "Standing up for the independence of the Surface Transportation Board is not only appropriate, it is necessary."

Use this tool at the right to send letters to your elected officials TODAY.

More from Board member Primus' statement about his lawsuit:

"Section 11 of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 requires the President to provide cause - inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance - when removing a member from the Surface Transportation Board. That is the law, upheld and observed by twenty-three presidents, twelve Republicans and eleven Democrats, since enacted 138 years ago. To date, no such cause was provided by the Trump Administration to justify my removal.

"Not only is this wrong, but it is extremely dangerous. It jeopardizes the future independence and impartiality of the Board and threatens the economic balance needed to keep our national freight rail network functioning properly. Without a healthy and stable rail network, a reliable and efficient supply chain cannot exist. A dysfunctional supply chain, in turn, prevents the nation’s economy from achieving its full potential.

"Members today, and in the future, must have the autonomy to review matters that come before the Board without political or partisan pressure. The facts and statutes related to each docket should be the only influence guiding members. Railroads, shippers and the labor force that comprise our rail network depend on this impartiality, and so does the nation’s economy and the American consumer that powers it. My lawsuit is not only appropriate but necessary."

Please use the tool at right to send a letter to your Senators and Representative.

Additional information about this firing:

• Democracy Forward: STB Commissioner Challenges Unlawful Firing
• New York Times: Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration