On Jan. 9, President Trump nominated Andrew Wheeler, Acting EPA Administrator, to head the EPA. Wheeler has served as Acting Administrator since July 2018, when then-Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned.
The nomination will now head to the Senate and a hearing is currently scheduled for January 16.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Chair of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, has vowed to work with committee members to vet the former coal lobbyist.
Wheeler was narrowly confirmed for his current job as EPA’s Deputy Administrator last April, amid complaints from Democrats and environmentalists that his former job as a coal lobbyist could pose conflicts at the agency. Wheeler vowed to steer clear of decisions affecting former clients, but those concerns may arise again as he undergoes a new round of hearings and votes.
Upon receiving the nominations, Wheeler said in a statement, “I am honored and grateful that President Trump has nominated me to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. For me, there is no greater responsibility than protecting human health and the environment, and I look forward to carrying out this essential task on behalf of the American public.”
