Scott Pruitt, Who Has Built a Career Out of Suing to Block E.P.A.’s Major Environmental Rules, Confirmed to Run (and Dismantle) Agency

Scott Pruitt, who has called for the dissolution of much of the agency’s authority, has been confirmed to run the Environmental Protection Agency.  He is a seasoned legal opponent of the agency and will now lead Trump's publicized efforts to dismantle major regulations on climate change and clean water and "get rid" of the agency.  At a time when our nation and the world would benefit from a more supported EPA, the exact opposite has occurred, an impossible pill to swallow.

Senate Democrats railed all night on the Senate floor against Mr. Pruitt and urged Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, to delay the confirmation vote until after next Tuesday, when the Oklahoma attorney general’s office is under order to release about 3,000 of Mr. Pruitt’s emails related to his communications with the fossil fuel industry.

Democrats, environmental groups and even current E.P.A. employees have harshly criticized Mr. Pruitt’s record of fighting the mission of the agency he will now lead, as well as his close ties with the fossil fuel industry he will now regulate. Both opponents and supporters of Mr. Pruitt say he is well positioned to carry out Mr. Trump’s campaign trail promises to dismantle the agency and slash its ranks of employees. Mr. Trump vowed to “get rid” of the agency “in almost every form.”

The plan is to act swiftly:

Within days of Mr. Pruitt’s swearing-in, Mr. Trump is expected to sign one or more executive orders aimed at undoing Mr. Obama’s climate change policies, people familiar with the White House’s plans said.

ACTION: Organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Coucil, 350.org, the Sierra Club will be fighting hard against this administration.  Read up on their work at their web sites, follow them on Twitter, and give a donation to them or similar groups.  We need environmental groups to be well funded to fight this fight.  Their web sites have concrete ways you can get involved beyond giving them money if this fighting for this cause drives you.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/us/politics/scott-pruitt-environmental-protection-agency.html