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Republican Patrick J. Fuchs was designated by the President as chairperson of the five-member Surface Transportation Board (STB). He succeeds Democrat Robert E. Primus, 55, who was designated chairperson in May 2024 by President Biden following the retirement of Democrat Martin J. Oberman. Primus will remain a Board member--is second term expiring Dec 31, 2027. Now in his second five-year term expiring Jan 14, 2029, Fuchs was first Senate-confirmed in 2019. By statute, STB members are limited to two terms but may remain until a successor is seated. When nominating Fuchs to his second term in 2024, Biden said he "played an integral role in the development and enactment of significant railroad legislation, including the reform of railroad infrastructure programs and the first reauthorization of the STB" since its 1996 rebranding from the Interstate Commerce Commission. Fuchs also helped draft National Transportation Safety Board and Amtrak reauthorization--the latter improving environmental and historic preservation permitting processes and encouraging private-sector competition.