President Donald Trump made it clear: America must reclaim its supply chains, rebuild its industrial base, and ensure that what we buy, build, and ship is Made in America. The newly announced merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern—the first coast-to-coast rail network in U.S. history—represents a bold step toward making that vision a reality.
This $85 billion deal will unite 50,000 miles of track across 43 states and connect 100 ports, forming a $250 billion enterprise designed to strengthen America’s backbone: manufacturing and freight. With an expected $2.75 billion in efficiencies, this merger will streamline how American goods move from factory floors to markets across the nation.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick endorsed the principle behind the deal, underscoring the importance of improved rail freight transportation. “Whether that should be through a merger or any other way, I’ll leave that to the regulators and overseers,” Lutnick told CNBC this week. “But the concept of making it more efficient to get across the country is obviously something that we applaud.” His comments signal that the Trump administration’s pro-industrial, pro-Made-in-America agenda sees this merger as a tool for national competitiveness.
Instead of relying on foreign competitors or overburdened highways, America will now have a seamless coast-to-coast rail system capable of moving steel, timber, petrochemicals, and grain with greater speed and lower cost. This is how you rebuild an industrial economy—by connecting producers directly to customers across the country, without bottlenecks or foreign interference. Rail executives say single-line movement will cut days off delivery times—one to two in most cases, and up to six days in some corridors.
Louisiana stands to be one of the biggest winners. Our state’s ports—New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, South Louisiana—will gain stronger access to both coasts. Farmers, timber producers, and petrochemical exporters will benefit from faster, more reliable service.
Most importantly, Union Pacific will directly serve the new Hyundai Steel Mill in Ascension—a project announced at the White House alongside President Trump, Governor Jeff Landry, and Louisiana leaders. That plant, a $2 billion investment, is not just an industrial project; it is a symbol of what the “New Industrial South” means. With direct rail service, Louisiana’s steel will flow into American auto plants, construction sites, and factories—keeping jobs and value right here at home.
The merger is more than corporate news; it is the physical infrastructure for Trump’s Made in America policy. For decades, global supply chains hollowed out U.S. industry while foreign railroads and shipping competitors gained ground. Now, America is taking back control.
By ensuring every rail job is protected, by investing in efficient and cleaner freight movement, and by linking rural communities to national markets, this merger embodies the promise that American workers and communities—not Wall Street or Beijing—will benefit.
Of course, there are detractors. Thousands of shippers worry about reduced rail competition, and some unions have raised concerns about job losses. Those debates will play out before regulators as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern file the full details of their deal early next year. But what’s undeniable is that this merger represents a turning point in how America moves freight—and who benefits from it.
This merger doesn’t just connect the coasts—it connects American producers to American consumers. It ties together Louisiana’s industrial might with the manufacturing resurgence underway across the country. And it sends a clear message: America is serious about building, shipping, and buying American again.
Governor Landry has said, “There is a new industrial South, there is a new economy that is happening in this part of the country.” The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger proves it. Louisiana is not just a pass-through state anymore—it is becoming the hub of America’s new industrial era.
The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger is a perfect example of Made in America policy at work—delivering real results for workers, families, and communities instead of Wall Street. It doesn’t just connect the coasts, it puts Louisiana at the center of our nation’s industrial future. This is exactly what President Trump envisioned when he promised to bring back American industry—and now that vision is becoming reality.
Alton Phillips
