October 23, 2025 – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate held a confirmation hearing to consider four of President Trump’s nominees to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors. The nominees, Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood from Tennessee, Randall Jones from Alabama, and Arthur Graham from Florida, appeared before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to share their backgrounds and answer questions about how they would help lead one of the most important public utilities in the country.
TVA provides electricity to over 10 million people across seven states and plays a big role in energy reliability, flood control, environmental stewardship, and economic development. That’s why these board seats matter. The hearing gave senators a chance to get to know each nominee and ask how they would handle major priorities like keeping power affordable, investing in infrastructure, and growing the region’s economy.
The nominees spoke about their experiences in business, energy, and public service, and the importance of bringing strong leadership and accountability to TVA. While the Board can technically operate with a quorum, these additional confirmations are a key step toward building a full, effective leadership team for the challenges ahead.
At Fueling Freedom, we believe that American energy independence starts with strong, transparent institutions that are capable of making long-term decisions in the public interest. That is why we support the confirmation of a full Board of Directors for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). As the nation’s largest federally owned utility, TVA is central to energy reliability, affordability, and innovation across a seven-state region—and its mission aligns with several of our organization’s core principles.
TVA is not just a power provider. It is a critical piece of America’s energy infrastructure. Its responsibilities include overseeing nuclear generation, modernizing the electric grid, protecting natural resources, managing transmission and flood control, and supporting economic development throughout the Southeast. These are high-stakes responsibilities that require experienced, engaged leadership at the board level.
Operating with only the minimum quorum required by law may be technically sufficient, but it does not reflect the scale or complexity of the energy challenges TVA faces. A fully confirmed Board brings greater oversight, deeper policy expertise, and broader regional representation to the table. That diversity of perspective is essential for sound decision-making—especially when dealing with billion-dollar investments in nuclear development, grid modernization, cybersecurity, and environmental stewardship.
Confirming a full TVA Board also strengthens accountability. Board members are presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed, which gives the public a direct line of trust in TVA’s governance. Leaving board seats vacant undermines that accountability and puts more power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. Our energy future should not rest on the decisions of a few when the law calls for many.
This issue directly connects with Fueling Freedom’s mission. We support:
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Energy Infrastructure Investment: A full TVA Board ensures long-term infrastructure projects, including transmission lines and nuclear upgrades, are thoughtfully planned and responsibly overseen.
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Regulatory Reform and Stability: TVA’s decisions impact environmental permitting, workforce rules, and compliance processes across state lines. Full governance prevents delays and reduces policy uncertainty.
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Economic Growth and Job Creation: TVA powers major industries and rural communities across the South. The stakes are too high to risk disruptions caused by board vacancies or weakened leadership.
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Public Trust and Good Governance: Confidence in public energy institutions is critical to securing America’s energy future. Confirming board members is a signal of commitment, seriousness, and stewardship.
Confirming a full TVA Board is not a partisan issue. It is a common-sense move that respects Congress’s intent and prepares one of the nation’s most important energy providers for the challenges ahead. If we want to build a resilient, innovative, and independent American energy system, we must start by ensuring the institutions responsible for it have the full leadership they need.
Fueling Freedom calls on the Senate to confirm the full slate of TVA Board nominees without delay. The future of American energy deserves nothing less.