Bill Hagerty

Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty expressed approval for Mike Skaggs' appointment as interim TVA CEO.

Skaggs, a former TVA executive, is set to serve for one year with a base salary of $500,000.

The appointment follows the retirement of former CEO Don Moul, whose pay faced a significant cut through a directive from President Trump.

The senators had previously criticized TVA leadership and called for an outside hire to lead the utility.

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are "pleased" with the interim appointment of Mike Skaggs as Tennessee Valley Authority CEO after they previously called for a TVA outsider to fill the leadership role.

Neither senator had a direct say in who would lead the nation's largest public utility because that is up to the TVA's board of directors. But board members come to TVA through presidential appointments followed by Senate confirmations, and four of the six directors are appointees of President Donald Trump.

Hagerty and Blackburn are allies of the president. And like Trump, they have publicly criticized the utility’s leadership in recent years, making it clear they preferred an interim pick to take over TVA's top job over a permanent appointment. They also wanted the interim CEO to be an outsider when it came time to replace the retiring Jeff Lyash.

The senators have gotten a lot of what they wanted.

Senators Blackburn and Hagerty support new TVA CEO

Skaggs is a former TVA executive. Depending on your view, that makes him an insider who's been out of the game or an outsider with inside experience.

Skaggs agreed to serve as CEO for one year, according to his offer letter. But unlike his immediate predecessor, Don Moul, Skaggs' time as CEO could be extended if he and the board agree to it.

“I am pleased that the TVA Board of Directors has selected an interim CEO who will lead the authority during this period of transition,” Blackburn said in a statement shared with Knox News. “The era of complacency is over, and we need a forward-looking TVA that can deliver next-generation nuclear power to the Tennessee Valley and follow through on President Trump’s energy agenda.”

Hagerty, likewise, said Skaggs’ appointment would push TVA forward.

“I applaud today’s announcement from @TVAnews on the appointment of Mike Skaggs as interim CEO,” Hagerty said in a post on X. “Sadly, TVA is late in its execution, but I’m pleased to see @POTUS’s new board adopting this common-sense approach.”

Skaggs embraces role amid TVA CEO compensation criticisms

The two men tasked with leading TVA in 2026 have a few things in common. Skaggs and Moul were chief operating officers for TVA before taking on the CEO role, and both have extensive energy experience.

While Skaggs' experience has primarily been with TVA, Moul has worked for companies including FirstEnergy Solutions and NextEra Energy.

Skaggs agreed April 24 to fill the CEO role after Moul announced his retirement earlier that month. Moul's announcement came weeks after Trump issued a memo that would have cut his pay by around 90% to $500,000. For years, TVA CEOs have been the highest-paid federal employees.

Skaggs has accepted a $500,000 salary, though his compensation could include an additional $499,000 if he meets certain goals. But even with the bonus cash, he would be paid millions less than Moul, whose appointment to CEO came after Blackburn and Hagerty co-wrote an opinion piece in POWER Magazine calling for new TVA leadership.

The board instead voted to appoint Moul, who was serving as COO, and his appointment was permanent. TVA took in record revenue during his time as CEO and made progress on nuclear initiatives, accepting $400 million for its Clinch River nuclear reactor project.

But Moul's tenure was marred by political trouble. Trump took aim at Moul for both his pay and a decision made under Lyash to retire two Tennessee coal-fired plants. Those plans have since been reversed.

Most of Moul’s time as CEO coincided with a TVA board stuck in neutral after Trump fired three Biden‑appointed directors, stripping it of the quorum needed to conduct most business through much of 2025.

Mariah Franklin reports on technology and energy for Knox News. Email: [email protected]. Signal: mariahfranklin.01