Andrew Wheeler, the deputy administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a former energy lobbyist, will become the agency’s acting head on Monday after Thursday's resignation of EPA head Scott Pruitt
Edward (Scott) Scott PruittTrump's relocation of the Bureau of Land Management was part of a familiar Republican playbook Understanding the barriers between scientists, the public and the truth Overnight Energy & Environment — Biden makes return to pre-Trump national monument boundaries official MORE.
After a series of mounting ethics scandals, President Trump
Donald Trump29 percent of GOP support efforts to charge accused Jan. 6 rioters: poll Trump warns Alaska GOP governor he'll revoke endorsement if he backs Murkowski Michigan Republican John James 'strongly considering' House run MORE tweeted Thursday that he had accepted Pruitt’s resignation and that Wheeler will serve as acting head of the EPA.
"I am both humbled and honored to take on this new responsibility at the same agency where I started my career over 25 years ago," Wheeler said in an email to EPA staff later in the afternoon.
The news follows Wheeler telling The Hill last week that he wasn't interested in becoming EPA administrator.
“I’m the deputy administrator, that’s the position I signed up for, that’s the position I wanted. I didn’t want to be the administrator, still don’t want to be the administrator,” Wheeler told The Hill.
“I’m here to help Administrator Pruitt with his agenda and President Trump’s agenda for the agency. That’s what my job is," he said at the time.
But Wheeler, who was confirmed in April, is widely seen as a replacement for Pruitt with similar deregulatory goals and facing fewer controversies.
Trump said he expects Wheeler to "continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda."
“I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!" Trump tweeted.
I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Within the Agency Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this. The Senate confirmed Deputy at EPA, Andrew Wheeler, will...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2018
...on Monday assume duties as the acting Administrator of the EPA. I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2018
The Senate voted in April, largely along party lines, to confirm Wheeler to the post. All present GOP senators voted for Wheeler, in addition to Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly
Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyBiden to have audience with pope, attend G20 summit Biden taps former Indiana Sen. Donnelly as ambassador to Vatican Republicans may regret restricting reproductive rights MORE (Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp
Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampHarry Reid, political pugilist and longtime Senate majority leader, dies Virginia loss lays bare Democrats' struggle with rural voters Washington's oldest contact sport: Lobbyists scrum to dilute or kill Democrats' tax bill MORE (N.D.) and Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinHarry Reid, political pugilist and longtime Senate majority leader, dies Meeting Manchin in the middle on the Child Tax Credit Greta Thunberg says it's 'strange' Biden is considered a leader on climate change MORE (W.Va.), who are each facing reelection in states that voted for Trump in 2016.
Democrats had argued that Wheeler wasn’t properly vetted to become EPA head in the scenario of Pruitt’s resignation. The probability of Pruitt leaving the post increased over the past few months, as he faced more several ethics probes into his actions as EPA chief.
Some lawmakers also highlighted Wheeler's previous work as an energy lobbyist as a disqualification for him to lead the environmental agency. Wheeler previously worked as the co-head of energy practice for the law and lobbying firm Faegre Baker Daniels, and lobbied on behalf of clients including coal-mining giant Murray Energy Corp.
He undid his lobbyist registration last year, shortly before Trump nominated him for the job.
Wheeler has previously worked for the EPA, and was a staffer for Sen. James Inhofe
James (Jim) Mountain InhofePelosi faces pushback over stock trade defense Overnight Defense & National Security — Senate looks to break defense bill stalemate Senate GOP moving toward deal to break defense bill stalemate MORE (R-Okla.), who was chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee at the time of Wheeler's employment.
“This is a selection that continues the Trump administration's essentially complete subservience to the fossil fuel industry in the entire environmental arena,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon WhitehouseTo save America's democracy, Democrats need to start acting like Republicans On The Money — Presented by Citi — Schumer signals delay for Biden plan NAACP head to push senators, White House for action on voting rights MORE (D-R.I.) said at the time of Wheeler's nomination.
“There's very little chance that Mr. Wheeler is going to take his public duties seriously as No. 2 at EPA and it's not like at No. 2 at EPA, there's a stopgap that's going to defend us. So this is a really dangerous duo,” he said.
Republicans had defended Wheeler, saying he was qualified for the position and would continue the Trump administration's ending of environmental regulations that the administration considered unnecessary or burdensome for the energy industry.
-Timothy Cama contributed to this report which was updated 7:10 p.m.
