President Donald Trump has made another decisive move within the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), dismissing a third board member since his resume to office, causing further delays in the board's ability to institute new programs or make significant changes, as reported by WVLT. The latest member to be relieved of duties was Beth Geer, whose term was not set to expire until May 2026.
Geer, who served as the chief of staff to former Vice President Al Gore, was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 21, 2022, her experience deeply rooted in climate change and environmental justice did not shield her from the termination of her service on the TVA board, WATE recounts these details, noting the vacancies created have not yet been filled as Trump has not named any replacements.
According to the board's bylaws, the TVA can continue with any operations established prior to losing its quorum, but it is restrained from embarking on new ventures or modifying the current direction of the organization, a situation critiqued by observers and experts alike for potentially stymieing progress and adaptation in a rapidly evolving energy sector.
The other board members removed this year were Michelle Moore and Joe H. Ritch, with Moore's departure coming directly after criticism by Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty who expressed concerns over the board's capabilities in nuclear technology advancement, Geer's contribution and service to the TVA was recognized in a statement where she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and hoped "the good work of the organization and its hard-working, dedicated employees continues to be valued," WBIR reports.
