Scott Pruitt

“How do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100?”

—Scott Pruitt, on whether we climate change is even a bad thing (Jan. 2018).

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Feb. 17, 2017 – July 9, 2018

As the attorney general of Oklahoma, Scott Pruitt sued the Environmental Protection Agency more than a dozen times and wasn’t shy about his desire to see the agencies authority significantly diminished – making him a natural pick to head the agency under President Trump.

Notables

A non-comprehensive list of Scott Pruitt’s scandals:

The scandals that sunk Scott Pruitt | OpenSecrets (7.5.18)

Issued guidance to weaken the hazardous air pollutants (HAPS) portion of the Clean Air Act, raising the threshold of allowable emissions of the pollutants.

Six pollution policies gutted by Scott Pruitt – and what happens next | News Scientist (7.9.18)

Pruitt maintained a secret calendar to hide controversial meetings and calls.

Whistleblower: Scott Pruitt kept secret calendar to hide meetings | CNN (7.3.18)

Enlisted an EPA aide to help his wife get a franchise gig with Chick-fil-A.

Pruitt enlisted an EPA aide to help his wife find a job – with Chick-fil-A | Washington Post (6.5.18)

Purchased a $43,000 soundproof phone booth, effectively using taxpayer funds to hide his activities as a public official while violating spending laws.

$43,000 soundproof phone booth violated spending laws | Washington Post (4.16.18)

Used several private and undisclosed email accounts to conduct business out of sight from watchdog groups and free from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Pruitt Has Been Using Several ‘Secret’ Email Accounts, Senators Say | Fortune (4.12.18)

Pulled 18 EPA agents from the field to be used as extra personal security, costing taxpayers $5M on an unnecessary, 24/7 20-member security detail.

EPA spent millions on 20-member security detail for Pruitt | NBC (4.6.18)

Ordered his drivers to use lights and sirens for non-emergency business, including for a visit to an upscale restaurant he frequented; reassigned lead agent of security detail after agent told Pruitt sirens could only be used in emergencies.

Scott Pruitt asked to use sirens in D.C. traffic and was told no for non-emergency | CBS News (4.5.18)

Bypassed White House rules to give huge raises to favored aides.

Bypassed Rules to Give Huge Raises to Favored Employees | The Atlantic (4.3.18)

Lived at an energy lobbyists house, well-below the market value rate.

EPA head Scott Pruitt lived in D.C. condo connected to energy lobbyist | PBS (3.30.18)

Traveled exclusively first class, costing taxpayers at least $90,000 in just one year (not including $58,000 for improper use of charter flights and a military jet).

Pruitt spent over $105,000 on first-class flights | POLITICO (3.20.18)

Purged science advisors who received grants from the agency with intent to replace them with researchers from the industries the agency is tasked with overseeing.

Pruitt’s EPA is taking unprecedented steps to oust scientists who receive its grants | Vox (11.1.17)

Met with Dow Chemical’s CEO just before deciding to reject a ban on the toxic pesticide Chlorpyrifos.

Pruitt met with Dow Chemical CEO before rejecting ban on toxic pesticide | Los Angeles Times (7.27.17)

Claimed to have created “almost 50,000 jobs created in the mining and coal sector alone” during the 2017 – however Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the number for closer to 1,000.

Pruitt’s claim that ‘almost 50,000 jobs’ have been gained in coal | Washington Post (6.6.17)

After being forced to remove the Ten Commandments from OK state capital building, Pruitt failed to change the state constitution to allow him to spend taxpayers’ funds promoting religion.

Administrator of the EPA