Twinkle Cavanaugh leaves Public Service Commission for Trump administration job
Snow falls on the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery amid rare winter weather on Jan. 21, 2025. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh will step down as president of Alabama's Public Service Commission to take a role in President Donald Trump's administration, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Cavanaugh will serve as the state director of rural development in Alabama.
According to the press release, Cavanaugh will 'affirm the mission of the Trump Administration by focusing on finding ways to empower rural America and unleash economic prosperity.'
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A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with Gina Maiola, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kay Ivey, who is responsible for appointing the interim president. According to al.com, Maiola said the governor will appoint someone 'in the coming days.'
Cavanaugh, a former chair of the Alabama Republican Party, was first elected to the Public Service Commission in 2010. In 2012, she was elected president of the commission, defeating Lucy Baxley, who at the time was the last Democrat holding statewide office in Alabama.
The Public Service Commission is the state's utility regulator, though critics have long accused it of being passive toward the companies it oversees. The PSC since 1982 has operated under a system that guarantees utilities a profit, a process different from a formal rate hearing, where an entity must justify any rate increases.
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I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict," the senator said in a press release. President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 21, following the announcement... President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 21, following the announcement that the U.S. bombed nuclear sites in Iran. Left inset: Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, is seen on June 4 in Washington, D.C. Right inset: Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, is seen on June 11, 2024, in Washington, D.C. More Carlos Barria/AFP/Kevin Dietsch/Full List of Members of Congress Backing the War Powers Resolution Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat Representative Val Hoyle, an Oregon Democrat Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat Representative Donald Beyer, a Virginia Democrat Representative Lloyd Doggett, a Texas Democrat Representative Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat Representative Ayanna Pressley, a Massachusetts Democrat Representative Delia Ramirez, an Illinois Democrat Representative Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat Representative Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, an Illinois Democrat Representative Nydia Velazquez, a New York Democrat Representative James McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat Representative Chellie Pingree, a Maine Democrat Representative Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat Representative Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat Representative Paul Tonko, a New York Democrat Representative Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, a New Jersey Democrat Representative Henry "Hank" Johnson, a Georgia Democrat Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Washington, D.C., Democrat Representative Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat Representative Janice Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat Representative Lateefah Simon, a California Democrat Representative Christopher Deluzio, a Pennsylvania Democrat Representative Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat Representative Mike Thompson, a California Democrat Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat Representative Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat Representative Luis Correa, a California Democrat Representative Betty McCollum, a Minnesota Democrat Representative Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat Representative Mark DeSaulnier, a California Democrat Representative Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat Representative Andre Carson, an Indiana Democrat Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, a Pennsylvania Democrat Representative Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat Representative Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat Representative Al Green, a Texas Democrat Representative Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat Representative Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat Representative Sylvia Garcia, a Texas Democrat Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez, a New Mexico Democrat Representative Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat What People Are Saying Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow and director of military analysis at Defense Priorities told Newsweek: "Iran has several options when it comes to retaliation, but will need to weigh them carefully. A stronger response may be useful for signaling Tehran's continuing resolve to internal and external audiences but it could also bring further U.S. military action and deeper U.S. involvement. Iran could target U.S. military bases and personnel in the Middle East." President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Saturday evening: "ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU!" Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations. The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior. In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people." What Happens Next? Iran's foreign minister said after the attack that his country reserves "all options to defend its sovereignty." The U.S. military is preemptively preparing for any attack from Tehran in response. It's unclear whether the War Powers Resolution sponsored by Khanna and Massie, which aims to curb Trump's ability to take military action against Iran, will move forward in the House. However, with Republican control of both chambers of Congress, it is not widely expected to succeed.
