This month, the Trump administration implemented significant layoffs within federal agencies responsible for managing power from hydroelectric dams, raising concerns about potential grid instabilities in critical data center markets. The cuts, which impacted 13% to 20% of the workforces at the four Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), affected roles ranging from linemen to the teams managing power distribution on a minute-by-minute basis.
However, in response to backlash from lawmakers and customers, the administration has reversed at least some of these layoffs, according to a report by E&E News.
The four PMAs are responsible for selling and transmitting hydropower generated from a variety of federally owned dams, including the Bonneville Dam in the Pacific Northwest and the Hoover Dam in the Southwest. These dams, along with the agencies overseeing the distribution of their power, provide electricity to tens of millions of homes across 34 states.
The PMAs are self-funded through the sale of electricity, meaning they do not rely on U.S. Treasury funds for their operations.
