Fired NTSB vice chair hits back at Trump with lawsuit over 'illegal' removal
Source: Law & Crime
Jun 5th, 2025, 1:25 pm
A top U.S. National Transportation Safety Board official who was ousted by President Donald Trump last month has fired back with a lawsuit, arguing that his removal was “illegal” and will have “significant and damaging consequences for the work of the board and its investigation and reporting of major transportation accidents and casualties,” according to court documents.
Former Vice Chair Alvin Brown was booted from his position on May 5 and stripped of his access to NTSB systems, email, and offices a day later without being given any specific reason for it, according to his federal complaint, which was filed Thursday in Washington, D.C.
Brown, a Democrat who was appointed as vice chair by Joe Biden in 2024, was axed via email from Trent Morse, deputy director of presidential personnel. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position on the National Transportation Safety Board is terminated effective immediately,” the email said, according to Brown’s complaint. “Thank you for your service.”
Brown’s lawyers argue that Trump “lacked authority to remove” him prior to the expiration of his term, which was slated to end in December 2026. “In the email removing Mr. Brown, Defendant Trump did not allege that Mr. Brown had engaged in inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office,” his complaint says, arguing that the president must do so under the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974, which states that the president may remove board members “only” for the reasons listed, per Brown’s complaint.
Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/damaging-consequences-fired-ntsb-vice-chair-hits-back-at-trump-with-lawsuit-over-illegal-removal-says-it-will-affect-investigation-and-reporting-of-major-accidents/
Full headline: ‘Damaging consequences’: Fired NTSB vice chair hits back at Trump with lawsuit over ‘illegal’ removal, says it will affect ‘investigation and reporting’ of major accidents
Link to Democracy Forward PRESS RELEASE - Lawsuit Filed to Defend Independence of National Transportation Safety Board
Link to COMPLAINT (PDF) - https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Alvin-Brown-v-Trump-Complaint.pdf
= new reply since forum marked as read
