At least six current and former agency officials were reportedly fired or reassigned to new jobs, allegedly for questioning EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's need for a 24-hour security protection | Mark Wilson/Getty Images Pruitt faces another probe for employee retaliation allegations

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is reviewing claims that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt retaliated against a handful of employees who pushed back against his spending and management, according to three people familiar with the process.

At least six current and former agency officials were reportedly fired or reassigned to new jobs, allegedly for questioning Pruitt's need for a 24-hour security protection — which has now cost at least $4.6 million — as well as his other spending and practices. OSC is in the process of interviewing some of those employees, according to the sources, although an OSC spokesman said the agency cannot comment on or confirm any open investigations.


The review by OSC adds to the roughly dozen other inquiries into Pruitt for seeking job opportunities for his wife, using aides to do personal tasks for him, and receiving sweetheart deals on a condo rental and exclusive sporting event seats from a lobbyist and a coal industry executive. Congressional Democrats have also requested an FBI investigation into potential criminal offenses.

OSC investigations typically center on federal employee complaints, and the agency primarily handles allegations of retaliation against staffers for whistleblower complaints and for refusing to obey orders that might require employees to violate a law. It also reviews potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities.

The OSC, which is independent, has the authority to require corrective action, like restoring an employee’s position or providing back pay, and can also prosecute if complaints are found to be legitimate.

An EPA spokesperson said the agency does not comment on OSC matters.

Four EPA employees were moved to new jobs or took temporary leave to work at universities after questioning Pruitt, the New York Times reported. They include career deputy chiefs of staff John E. Reeder and Reginald E. Allen and security agents Eric Weese and John C. Martin. Two other employees were fired. One, Mario Caraballo, deputy associate administrator of the Office of Homeland Security, was dismissed after editing a report suggesting the recorded threats against Pruitt didn't justify his large-scale security operation. EPA has said he was let go for other reasons.

The other, Kevin Chmielewski, was a political aide and chief of staff for operations, who has outspokenly criticized Pruitt's leadership in interviews with lawmakers and the press.

One person who lodged a complaint said the employees' concerns should be taken seriously.

“These are highly educated, professional people who don’t complain. They do their job, they do it well and they’re tired of being abused by career employees who enable [Chief of Staff] Ryan Jackson and Scott Pruitt to get away with what they’re doing,” the person said.

Other EPA staffers have said Jackson also questioned some of Pruitt’s decisions.



CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to remove a reference that said the review had not been previously reported. It was reported by the New York Times.