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E.P.A. to Spend Nearly $25,000 on a Soundproof Booth for Pruitt E.P.A. to Spend Nearly $25,000 on a Soundproof Booth for Pruitt
(about 7 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has signed a contract for nearly $25,000 to build a soundproof communications booth for the office of the administrator, Scott Pruitt.WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has signed a contract for nearly $25,000 to build a soundproof communications booth for the office of the administrator, Scott Pruitt.
The contract, with Acoustical Solutions in Richmond, Va., was first reported by the Washington Post. It calls for the construction of a $24,570 “privacy booth” for Mr. Pruitt’s office. The contract, with Acoustical Solutions in Richmond, Va., was first reported by The Washington Post. It calls for the construction of a $24,570 “privacy booth” for Mr. Pruitt’s office.
Liz Bowman, a spokeswoman for the E.P.A., did not return requests for comment on the contract. In a statement to the Post, she said agencies needed to have such booths to guard against hacking and eavesdropping. “This is something which a number, if not all, Cabinet offices have and E.P.A. needs to have updated,” she said. Liz Bowman, a spokeswoman for the E.P.A., did not return requests for comment on the contract. In a statement to The Post, she said agencies needed to have such booths to guard against hacking and eavesdropping. “This is something which a number, if not all, Cabinet offices have and E.P.A. needs to have updated,” she said.
Critics say Mr. Pruitt has gone to unusual lengths to operate in secrecy at the E.P.A., where employees report he is often accompanied by armed guards even inside the agency, and avoids making important calls in his office. He is the first E.P.A. administrator to have round-the-clock security.Critics say Mr. Pruitt has gone to unusual lengths to operate in secrecy at the E.P.A., where employees report he is often accompanied by armed guards even inside the agency, and avoids making important calls in his office. He is the first E.P.A. administrator to have round-the-clock security.
Steve Snider, a salesman at Acoustical Solutions who handled the E.P.A. contract, said privacy booths are typically used to conduct hearing tests and cost between $5,000 and $6,000. He said the E.P.A. had requested significant modifications that ultimately required them to have the booth custom-ordered through the manufacturer. Steve Snider, a salesman at Acoustical Solutions who handled the E.P.A. contract, said privacy booths are typically used to conduct hearing tests and cost $5,000 to $6,000. He said the E.P.A. had requested significant modifications that ultimately required a custom order for the booth with the manufacturer.
“They wanted a secure phone and computer room, essentially for sensitive information,” Mr. Snider said. “You can’t hear what’s going on outside, but conversely people outside can’t hear what’s going on inside.”“They wanted a secure phone and computer room, essentially for sensitive information,” Mr. Snider said. “You can’t hear what’s going on outside, but conversely people outside can’t hear what’s going on inside.”
The company has worked with government offices since at least 2007 to soundproof rooms and provide acoustic insulation, according to the federal contract database. The company currently has contracts with the Department of the Treasury to create a sound enclosure at the United States Mint in Denver. The company has worked with government offices since at least 2007 to soundproof rooms and provide acoustic insulation, according to the federal contract database. The company currently has contracts with the Treasury Department to create a sound enclosure at the United States Mint in Denver.
Mr. Snider said the E.P.A.’s request for a secure booth for the head of the agency was unusual.Mr. Snider said the E.P.A.’s request for a secure booth for the head of the agency was unusual.
“It’s the first time that I’ve seen it,” he said.“It’s the first time that I’ve seen it,” he said.
Liz Purchia-Gannon, who previously served as a spokeswoman for Gina McCarthy, the E.P.A. administrator under President Obama, called the purchase “bizarre” and unnecessary. Ms. Purchia-Gannon said that the agency already had a secure room for working with classified information. Liz Purchia-Gannon, who served as a spokeswoman for Gina McCarthy, the E.P.A. administrator under President Obama, called the purchase “bizarre” and unnecessary. Ms. Purchia-Gannon said the agency already had a secure room for working with classified information.
“As someone who spent a lot of time in the administrator’s office, I can tell you that there was nothing like this previously,” she said. “I can’t imagine why this taxpayer expense would be necessary and why an extra secure room is needed in his office, other than to avoid staff.”“As someone who spent a lot of time in the administrator’s office, I can tell you that there was nothing like this previously,” she said. “I can’t imagine why this taxpayer expense would be necessary and why an extra secure room is needed in his office, other than to avoid staff.”