Trump fires another TVA board member

by: Ella Wales

Posted: Apr 2, 2025 / 06:03 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 2, 2025 / 06:03 PM EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ( WATE) — A second Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors member has been fired at the direction of President Donald Trump.

Board Chair Joe Ritch's appointment came to an end Tuesday. According to an SEC filing, his removal was at the direction of the president. The news comes just days after board member Michelle Moore was also fired by Trump.

According to the TVA bylaws, the board must have five members to meet its quorum. Without at least five members, the board can continue operations that were established while TVA did have a quorum, but does not have the authority to "direct TVA into new areas of activity, to embark on new programs, or to change TVA's existing direction."

Stephen Smith is the executive director at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). He said the reduction in leadership isn't the only shakeup happening.

"You have a change in leadership in the sense that you've got a new CFO, and now a new CEO. You have a number of the units of TVA's nuclear fleet, about 42%, that are not operational now, so three of the nuclear plants are down. You have two Tennessee senators, Blackburn and Hagerty, who have written a very hostile op-ed, pushing TVA and challenging their leadership," Smith said.

The two senators sent a joint statement to 6 News:

"We share the Trump administration's commitment to the long-term future of the Valley and will work together to ensure the TVA is fulfilling its potential. TVA requires bold and competent leadership to keep America at the cutting edge of energy innovation. The Trump administration's decisive actions to shake up the status quo at the TVA will allow us to confirm new board members who will champion the future of Tennessee's energy needs and ensure our state leads the way in nuclear energy. We can't let this moment pass us by."

-Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty

Congressman Tim Burchett also chiming in, saying in a statement:

"This why I am pushing for more transparency at TVA. The public deserves to be informed on major staffing changes at Tennessee Valley Authority. That is also why I introduced the TVA Transparency act, and I am proud to be working closely with Senator Blackburn."

Congressman Tim Burchett

Smith said the lack of leadership could call TVA's power quality into question.

"If it persists and the board is not able to make certain decisions, then you could see that plans for building new generation may be delayed or cancelled, they're not going to be able to finish their integrated resource plan, which is their long term planning process because they don't have the ability to make a decision on that, and that was scheduled to come up in the May board meeting," he said.

In the long term, Smith said this could lead to higher costs, or unreliable power, though that's far off.

One of the plans that could be delayed by the lack of board members is the construction of a small modular nuclear reactor in Oak Ridge. These plans have been supported by state lawmakers including Governor Bill Lee.

TVA board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. Smith expects the roles won't be filled anytime soon, if at all.

"In the coming weeks, we're going to see, does the Trump administration move to completely change TVA? And if we start that process, how are we going to make sure that those changes lead to a better situation for customers in the Tennessee Valley?" Smith said.

With Ritch's departure, Bill Renick is assuming the role of board chair.