Congressman Estes Kefauver of Tennessee's 3rd District became involved in a dispute over who would provide electrical power to the Volunteer Ordnance Works being constructed in Chattanooga in 1941. Kefauver did not approve of the Tennessee Valley Authority competing with the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga in the retail sale of power and informed Lilienthal of his decision. In response, Gordon Clapp issued a telegram announcing TVA's withdrawal from the contracting process.