Mississippi state Sen. Charles “Chuck” Younger, R-Columbus, wrote in Mississippi Today that the proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would hurt the state’s farmers, manufacturers, and port communities, and urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject the deal.
Sen. Younger: Railroad Merger Is Bad for Mississippi and Bad for America
Mississippi Today, by Charles Younger, September 1, 2026
“A proposed railroad merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would concentrate an unprecedented share of U.S. freight rail into a single system — and Mississippi’s farmers, manufacturers and ports would feel the impact.
As a state senator, I believe in free markets. In fact, I’ve built my career on this principle. But free markets only work when competitive balance allows small businesses to thrive, industries to grow and hire and consumers to benefit. A merger between the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would shift that balance in the wrong direction, and that’s why I oppose the proposed $85 billion merger.
If approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board, this transaction would create the largest railroad in American history, with a single company controlling roughly 40% of all U.S. freight rail traffic. In an industry where four carriers already handle nearly 90% of all freight, that’s not a merger. It’s the last step toward a monopoly. To be clear, the people who will pay the price aren’t the shareholders in Omaha or Atlanta, but instead farmers, mill workers and small businesses right here in Mississippi.”
Read the full op-ed here.