EPA Head Scott Pruitt Resigns
Scott Pruitt resigned from his position as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday after months of controversy involving his ethics, spending, and management of the agency.
Scott Pruitt resigned from his position as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday after months of controversy involving his ethics, spending, and management of the agency. Pruitt is a former Oklahoma attorney general who worked toward deregulation during his time at EPA.
Pruitt had faced much criticism in the last several months due to actions such as using taxpayer money on travel and security, close relationships with lobbyists, and allegations that he repeatedly used aides and his security detail to help him with personal tasks.
In April, the Government Accountability Office found Pruitt guilty of overspending $43,000 of congressionally allocated money on a soundproof booth installed in his office for privacy on personal calls. He is currently facing more than twelve federal investigations, including from the EPA’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
In a two-part tweet Thursday, President Trump announced that he had accepted Pruitt’s resignation. He added that Pruitt will be replaced on Monday by EPA Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler.