WASHINGTON—President Trump removed the chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors and another board member and called for the firing of the federally owned utility’s CEO on Monday as he signed an executive order designed to prevent U.S. federal workers from being displaced by foreigners.
The TVA, which oversees power generation for a large part of the mid-South, drew criticism earlier this year after saying it would outsource 20% of its information-technology workforce to foreign companies. The White House said it could mean 200 American workers would be displaced by temporary work visa holders.
TVA board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve five-year terms. The board selects the TVA’s chief executive.
Mr. Trump, who has campaigned on protecting jobs for Americans, was joined by several TVA employees as he signed the executive order. The president said he was dismissing TVA board chairman James Thompson and board member Richard Howorth and criticized the salary of TVA Chief Executive Jeff Lyash.
“He gets $8 million a year so that was just a succession of deep swamp things happening and it’s a disgrace,” Mr. Trump said as he pressed the TVA board to replace Mr. Lyash.
“We understand and support today’s Executive Order,” the TVA said in a statement. “We want to ensure that U.S. employees have good opportunities through our employment and supply chain practices. We look forward to working with the White House, continuing a dialogue and supporting future policies in this direction.”
U.S. Tech Workers, an organization opposed to the H-1B visa program, has criticized the TVA and Mr. Lyash in recent weeks, and has run ads in Tennessee calling on Mr. Trump to take action.
Mr. Trump’s executive order requires all federal agencies to complete an audit to determine whether they comply with a requirement that only U.S. citizens and nationals are appointed to the competitive service, according to the White House.
The order also continues the administration’s push to restrict the use of H-1B high-skilled work visas, requiring the Labor Department to tighten guidance so employers can’t move those workers to other job sites.
Further details about the order weren’t immediately clear.
WASHINGTON—President Trump removed the chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors and another board member and called for the firing of the federally owned utility’s CEO on Monday as he signed an executive order designed to prevent U.S. federal workers from being displaced by foreigners.
The TVA, which oversees power generation for a large part of the mid-South, drew criticism earlier this year after saying it would outsource 20% of its information-technology workforce to foreign companies. The White House said it could mean 200 American workers would be displaced by temporary work visa holders.
TVA board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve five-year terms. The board selects the TVA’s chief executive.
Mr. Trump, who has campaigned on protecting jobs for Americans, was joined by several TVA employees as he signed the executive order. The president said he was dismissing TVA board chairman James Thompson and board member Richard Howorth and criticized the salary of TVA Chief Executive Jeff Lyash.
“He gets $8 million a year so that was just a succession of deep swamp things happening and it’s a disgrace,” Mr. Trump said as he pressed the TVA board to replace Mr. Lyash.
“We understand and support today’s Executive Order,” the TVA said in a statement. “We want to ensure that U.S. employees have good opportunities through our employment and supply chain practices. We look forward to working with the White House, continuing a dialogue and supporting future policies in this direction.”
U.S. Tech Workers, an organization opposed to the H-1B visa program, has criticized the TVA and Mr. Lyash in recent weeks, and has run ads in Tennessee calling on Mr. Trump to take action.
Mr. Trump’s executive order requires all federal agencies to complete an audit to determine whether they comply with a requirement that only U.S. citizens and nationals are appointed to the competitive service, according to the White House.
The order also continues the administration’s push to restrict the use of H-1B high-skilled work visas, requiring the Labor Department to tighten guidance so employers can’t move those workers to other job sites.
Further details about the order weren’t immediately clear.