Fired U.S. Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus is suing the Trump administration, over claims that his late-August dismissal was "dangerous and wrong."

Primus was terminated from his STB position after serving on the board as a Democrat for nearly two and a half decades. In an October 1 LinkedIn post, Primus asserted that his removal "threatens the economic balance needed to keep our national freight rail network functioning properly," especially as the STB is set to review a proposed $85 billion mega-merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.

"Without a healthy and stable rail network, a reliable and efficient supply chain cannot exist," he added. "A dysfunctional supply chain, in turn, prevents the nation’s economy from achieving its full potential."

The STB functions as an independent commission, and under existing laws, the President can only remove board members for specific statutory causes, such as neglect of duty or committing a crime while in office. In his lawsuit, Primus claims that no such cause was given for his termination, and that he was targeted by the White House for his political leanings. At the time of Primus' firing, a Trump administration spokesperson did not specify why exactly he had been removed, stating only that he "did not align with the President's 'America First' agenda."

The Trump administration has also faced legal challenges for attempts to remove members of several other independent bodies. Most recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on October 1 that fired Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook could remain in her position while justices review her case. President Trump previously claimed that he had terminated Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud, although she's denied those claims.