Filed Date: Oct. 1, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case challenged President Trump’s removal of a member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
On August 27, 2025, President Trump removed plaintiff, Robert E. Primus, from his position as a member of the STB. Plaintiff had served on the Board since being appointed during President Trump’s first term in January 2021. His current five-year term was not set to expire until December 31, 2027. Under the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015, STB is a “multimember, bipartisan board of experts, appointed by the President and confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate”. Members serve a fixed term and are subject to removal only for “inefficient, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”
On October 1, 2025, Plaintiff, represented by attorneys from non-profit Democracy Forward Foundation and private counsel at Justice Legal Strategies PLLC, sued President Trump, the Chairman of the STB, and the STB itself over the President’s decision to remove him from his position as a member of the STB. In a letter from the Presidential Personnel Office, Plaintiff was informed of his termination with no further explanation given. Based on this, Plaintiff alleged that the President had removed him absent a showing of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Plaintiff claimed that this violated the 2015 Act (49 U.S.C. § 1301(b)(3)). Plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief.
On October 2, the case was assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the D.C. District Court. Judge Friedrich also issued a minute order directing Plaintiff to file a motion for a Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction by October 9 if Plaintiff intended to seek one. As of November 6, nothing has been filed.
This case remains ongoing.
Summary Authors
Claire Pollard (10/2/2025)
Madeline Kaplan (10/24/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71516044/parties/primus-v-trump/
Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)
Goldstein, Elena (District of Columbia)
Greenbaum, Jon M. (District of Columbia)
Liao, Cynthia (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71516044/primus-v-trump/
Last updated Jan. 14, 2026, 2:30 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Oct. 1, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Member of the Surface Transportation Board who was removed by President Trump.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Donald J. Trump in his official capacity as President of the United States, Federal
Patrick J. Fuchs in his official capacity as Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, Federal
Surface Transportation Board, Federal
Case Details
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03521
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: