Fired NTSB Vice Chair Sues Trump Over ‘Illegal’ Removal, Claims Political Retaliation: Court Docs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A former top transportation safety official is suing former President Donald Trump and the U.S. government, alleging that her abrupt removal from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was both illegal and politically motivated. The lawsuit, filed this week in federal court, accuses Trump of violating federal protections that are meant to shield independent agency officials from partisan interference.

Bella Dinh-Zarr, who served as the NTSB’s vice chair and acting chair during part of her tenure, claims she was wrongfully fired in 2019 after publicly opposing White House efforts to loosen safety regulations — including those involving train crew requirements and oil train safety. Her lawsuit, made public in newly filed court documents, seeks reinstatement and back pay, and it challenges what she describes as a “targeted and unlawful purge” of independent oversight voices.

Allegations of Political Payback

According to the complaint, Dinh-Zarr argues that her removal violated the Independent Agencies Act and other federal statutes that are designed to protect NTSB members from termination without cause. She claims she was pushed out after resisting pressure to align with deregulatory goals pushed by the Trump administration and Department of Transportation officials.

Her attorneys contend that the action undermines the very independence that agencies like the NTSB are supposed to maintain. “This was a calculated attempt to silence a dissenting voice on transportation safety policy,” the lawsuit states.

White House Role Scrutinized

Court filings suggest that White House staff and Department of Transportation officials discussed replacing Dinh-Zarr with someone seen as more “industry-friendly.” While presidents can designate a chair from existing board members, they are not authorized to dismiss NTSB members without documented cause, making her removal, according to her legal team, “a clear overreach.”

The Trump administration at the time claimed her term had expired, but legal experts note that NTSB members are appointed to fixed five-year terms and can only be removed for cause — a point central to the lawsuit.

Broader Implications for Oversight Independence

Dinh-Zarr’s case is part of a growing pattern of lawsuits and legal challenges that examine the boundaries of presidential power over independent agencies. If successful, it could set a precedent for safeguarding regulatory board members from political retaliation, especially in cases where public safety is at stake.

“This case is about more than just one person,” said Dinh-Zarr in a statement. “It’s about ensuring that critical safety work — like preventing train crashes or aviation disasters — isn’t subject to political whims.”

Government Response Pending

The U.S. Department of Justice, representing the federal government, has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit. Legal analysts expect the case could raise significant constitutional questions around separation of powers and the protections afforded to federal agency officials.