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Trump Says He’ll Nominate Andrew Wheeler to Head the E.P.A. Trump Says He’ll Nominate Andrew Wheeler to Head the E.P.A.
(about 1 hour later)
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WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said he intends to nominate Andrew R. Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, to be the permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said he intends to nominate Andrew R. Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, to be the permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
The E.P.A. has been at the center of the Trump administration’s agenda to reduce the regulations on industry, and Mr. Wheeler has been instrumental in seeing through rollbacks of major environmental policies. The changes include proposals to weaken the Obama administration’s signature policies to combat climate change, including a sweeping regulation on emissions from coal-fired power plants and a rule reining in pollution from vehicle tailpipes.The E.P.A. has been at the center of the Trump administration’s agenda to reduce the regulations on industry, and Mr. Wheeler has been instrumental in seeing through rollbacks of major environmental policies. The changes include proposals to weaken the Obama administration’s signature policies to combat climate change, including a sweeping regulation on emissions from coal-fired power plants and a rule reining in pollution from vehicle tailpipes.
Mr. Trump made the announcement about Mr. Wheeler while leading a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House. Referring to Mr. Wheeler, he said, “Acting administrator, who I tell you is going to be made permanent, he’s done a fantastic job and I want to congratulate him.”Mr. Trump made the announcement about Mr. Wheeler while leading a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House. Referring to Mr. Wheeler, he said, “Acting administrator, who I tell you is going to be made permanent, he’s done a fantastic job and I want to congratulate him.”
In an interview at E.P.A. headquarters earlier in the day, Mr. Wheeler, who has served as acting head of the agency since Scott Pruitt resigned in July amid federal ethics inquiries, said he wanted the job.In an interview at E.P.A. headquarters earlier in the day, Mr. Wheeler, who has served as acting head of the agency since Scott Pruitt resigned in July amid federal ethics inquiries, said he wanted the job.
“At this point, yes, I would like to be nominated to be the administrator,” Mr. Wheeler said in the interview, before Mr. Trump’s announcement. “I think I’m making a difference. This is a transitional time for the agency. We’ve started a number of initiatives that I’d like to see through to conclusion.”“At this point, yes, I would like to be nominated to be the administrator,” Mr. Wheeler said in the interview, before Mr. Trump’s announcement. “I think I’m making a difference. This is a transitional time for the agency. We’ve started a number of initiatives that I’d like to see through to conclusion.”
Mr. Wheeler joined the E.P.A. in April as deputy administrator. After Mr. Pruitt’s departure, Mr. Trump appointed him to lead the agency on an interim basis.Mr. Wheeler joined the E.P.A. in April as deputy administrator. After Mr. Pruitt’s departure, Mr. Trump appointed him to lead the agency on an interim basis.
Since then, Mr. Wheeler has distinguished himself among top officials in the Trump administration for his low-key, under-the-radar style, even as he has worked diligently and methodically to advance Mr. Trump’s deregulatory agenda.Since then, Mr. Wheeler has distinguished himself among top officials in the Trump administration for his low-key, under-the-radar style, even as he has worked diligently and methodically to advance Mr. Trump’s deregulatory agenda.
While Mr. Pruitt, the former Oklahoma attorney general, gained notice for his political ambition and close ties to the president, he also faced allegations that he used his office to seek special favors, such as employment opportunities for his wife, and that he overspent on personal security and travel.While Mr. Pruitt, the former Oklahoma attorney general, gained notice for his political ambition and close ties to the president, he also faced allegations that he used his office to seek special favors, such as employment opportunities for his wife, and that he overspent on personal security and travel.
And while Mr. Pruitt won Mr. Trump’s praise for putting forth dozens of policy moves designed to tear down former President Barack Obama’s environmental agenda, many of those have since been challenged or struck down by the courts.And while Mr. Pruitt won Mr. Trump’s praise for putting forth dozens of policy moves designed to tear down former President Barack Obama’s environmental agenda, many of those have since been challenged or struck down by the courts.
Mr. Wheeler, on the other hand, has led the professional life of a technocrat, avoiding the limelight in favor of carefully advancing his boss’s agenda. Both his supporters and critics say Mr. Wheeler’s history as a coal lobbyist, former E.P.A. official and senior Senate staffer could make him far more formidable at effectively advancing Mr. Trump’s deregulation policies, while avoiding the political spotlight or ethical pitfalls that derailed his predecessor.Mr. Wheeler, on the other hand, has led the professional life of a technocrat, avoiding the limelight in favor of carefully advancing his boss’s agenda. Both his supporters and critics say Mr. Wheeler’s history as a coal lobbyist, former E.P.A. official and senior Senate staffer could make him far more formidable at effectively advancing Mr. Trump’s deregulation policies, while avoiding the political spotlight or ethical pitfalls that derailed his predecessor.
“I would say he’s been absolutely as relentless and faithful to the agenda as Pruitt was,” said Joseph Goffman, who previously served as chief counsel to E.P.A.’s air chief in the Obama administration.“I would say he’s been absolutely as relentless and faithful to the agenda as Pruitt was,” said Joseph Goffman, who previously served as chief counsel to E.P.A.’s air chief in the Obama administration.
Mr. Wheeler began his career at the E.P.A. in the 1990s before working in the Senate for more than a decade with James Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma. Senator Inhofe is one of the most prominent members of Congress who denies the established science of human-caused climate change.Mr. Wheeler began his career at the E.P.A. in the 1990s before working in the Senate for more than a decade with James Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma. Senator Inhofe is one of the most prominent members of Congress who denies the established science of human-caused climate change.
Mr. Wheeler later became a lobbyist at the Faegre Baker Daniels consulting firm, where his top client was the coal magnate Robert E. Murray, chief executive of the Murray Energy. Over a period of eight years, Mr. Murray paid Mr. Wheeler’s firm more than $2.7 million.Mr. Wheeler later became a lobbyist at the Faegre Baker Daniels consulting firm, where his top client was the coal magnate Robert E. Murray, chief executive of the Murray Energy. Over a period of eight years, Mr. Murray paid Mr. Wheeler’s firm more than $2.7 million.
Mr. Murray, a champion of the coal industry and a strong supporter of Mr. Trump, lobbied senior officials at the White House last year with a wish list of actions he wanted to see the administration take. The items included withdrawing to the Paris climate agreement and rolling back Mr. Obama’s signature climate change regulation, the Clean Power Plan, which was designed to reduce planet-warming emissions from coal plants and encourage renewable energy.Mr. Murray, a champion of the coal industry and a strong supporter of Mr. Trump, lobbied senior officials at the White House last year with a wish list of actions he wanted to see the administration take. The items included withdrawing to the Paris climate agreement and rolling back Mr. Obama’s signature climate change regulation, the Clean Power Plan, which was designed to reduce planet-warming emissions from coal plants and encourage renewable energy.
During Mr. Wheeler’s confirmation hearing to be E.P.A. deputy administrator, and later when he became acting administrator, he acknowledged working with Mr. Murray to fight the Clean Power Plan. But he said he had no substantive involvement with the memos that Mr. Murray wrote outlining his regulatory wish list. Mr. Wheeler also said he did not lobby E.P.A. on Mr. Murray’s behalf after the 2016 election, knowing he might join the Trump administration.During Mr. Wheeler’s confirmation hearing to be E.P.A. deputy administrator, and later when he became acting administrator, he acknowledged working with Mr. Murray to fight the Clean Power Plan. But he said he had no substantive involvement with the memos that Mr. Murray wrote outlining his regulatory wish list. Mr. Wheeler also said he did not lobby E.P.A. on Mr. Murray’s behalf after the 2016 election, knowing he might join the Trump administration.
Senator Inhofe said this week that, should Mr. Wheeler be nominated to lead the agency, he would expect the confirmation to be straightforward. “I know there is no opposition to him,” the senator said. “He is of course the favorite of the president, and of mine.”Senator Inhofe said this week that, should Mr. Wheeler be nominated to lead the agency, he would expect the confirmation to be straightforward. “I know there is no opposition to him,” the senator said. “He is of course the favorite of the president, and of mine.”
Mr. Wheeler won Senate confirmation to the No. 2 position at the agency on a mostly party-line vote, with three Democrats supporting him. It is not clear that he will have unanimous Republican support to be administrator.Mr. Wheeler won Senate confirmation to the No. 2 position at the agency on a mostly party-line vote, with three Democrats supporting him. It is not clear that he will have unanimous Republican support to be administrator.
Some environmentalists said Friday that Mr. Wheeler’s past lobbying on behalf of the coal industry should disqualify him from leading an agency with a mission of protecting human health and the environment. Some Democrats in the Senate have also expressed reservations.Some environmentalists said Friday that Mr. Wheeler’s past lobbying on behalf of the coal industry should disqualify him from leading an agency with a mission of protecting human health and the environment. Some Democrats in the Senate have also expressed reservations.
Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees the E.P.A., said this week that, while he liked Mr. Wheeler and considered him an improvement over Mr. Pruitt, he was not ready to support his formal ascent to head of the agency.Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the leading Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees the E.P.A., said this week that, while he liked Mr. Wheeler and considered him an improvement over Mr. Pruitt, he was not ready to support his formal ascent to head of the agency.
“We need to make progress, especially in reducing the carbon sources from the biggest source in the environment, the mobile fleet,” Senator Carper said, referring to the E.P.A. plan to loosen auto emissions standards.“We need to make progress, especially in reducing the carbon sources from the biggest source in the environment, the mobile fleet,” Senator Carper said, referring to the E.P.A. plan to loosen auto emissions standards.
Mr. Wheeler in the Friday morning interview cited the plan to relax auto emissions rules as one that he wanted to see through as administrator, as well as his replacement of the Clean Power Plan for coal-fired power plants, and a clean-water rule that clarifies which wetlands and small waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act.Mr. Wheeler in the Friday morning interview cited the plan to relax auto emissions rules as one that he wanted to see through as administrator, as well as his replacement of the Clean Power Plan for coal-fired power plants, and a clean-water rule that clarifies which wetlands and small waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act.
When Mr. Wheeler joined the E.P.A., he found an agency in turmoil. Morale was at a low and career biologists, chemists and others were leaving.When Mr. Wheeler joined the E.P.A., he found an agency in turmoil. Morale was at a low and career biologists, chemists and others were leaving.
Mr. Pruitt did not respond to a request for comment that was submitted through his lawyer, Cleta Mitchell. Mr. Pruitt’s lawyer, Cleta Mitchell, declined to comment.
Mr. Wheeler’s first move as acting administrator was to cast off Mr. Pruitt’s personal security team. He also made a point of inviting career employees into policy briefings, and visiting all 10 of the agency’s regional offices, something Mr. Pruitt did not do.Mr. Wheeler’s first move as acting administrator was to cast off Mr. Pruitt’s personal security team. He also made a point of inviting career employees into policy briefings, and visiting all 10 of the agency’s regional offices, something Mr. Pruitt did not do.
The shadow of Mr. Pruitt still looms over Mr. Wheeler, who said in the interview Friday that he preferred not to discuss his former boss. “I try not to talk about Scott Pruitt or the differences between us,” he said. But, he added, “I get a lot of thank-yous from the staff just for being with them, talking to them.”The shadow of Mr. Pruitt still looms over Mr. Wheeler, who said in the interview Friday that he preferred not to discuss his former boss. “I try not to talk about Scott Pruitt or the differences between us,” he said. But, he added, “I get a lot of thank-yous from the staff just for being with them, talking to them.”
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