Washington, DC — Today, Alvin Brown, former Vice Chair and confirmed member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging his unlawful removal by the Trump-Vance administration. Represented by Democracy Forward and Justice Legal Strategies, Brown v. Trump et al. seeks to restore Brown to his position and prevent further political interference with the Board’s independent, expert-led safety mission.

Brown was nominated by President Biden, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and appointed to a five-year term ending December 31, 2026. His removal—without cause and in direct violation of federal law—undermines the statutory protections that ensure the NTSB operates independently from partisan interference.

“Congress made the National Transportation Safety Board independent for a reason: to ensure that investigations into transportation disasters are driven by expertise and evidence,” said Victoria Nugent, Legal Director at Democracy Forward. “The termination of Mr. Brown and the undermining of the independence of this Board does nothing to keep people safer. At a time when transportation safety is top of mind, we should be strengthening, not weakening, the systems meant to protect all Americans.”

The Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 clearly states that a President may remove an NTSB board member only for “inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”  The White House directed Brown’s removal without citing this, or any other, basis.

The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to declare Brown’s removal unlawful, block the NTSB from continuing to bar him from performing his duties, and restore his access to the office and its resources. The case also seeks injunctive relief to prevent further interference with Brown’s role.

The legal team includes Democracy Forward lawyers Cynthia Liao, and Victoria Nugent, and Jon Greenbaum of Justice Legal Strategies..

Read the complaint here. 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.