Democrats are likely to attack Andrew Wheeler for his aggressive efforts to undo Obama-era environmental regulations. | Cliff Owen/AP Photo Energy & Environment Trump formally nominates Wheeler to deregulate at EPA

President Donald Trump has formally nominated Andrew Wheeler to be EPA administrator, cementing the no-nonsense former attorney as his pick to carry out his deregulatory agenda, the White House announced today.

The nomination was expected after Trump announced his intention in November.


Democrats are likely to attack Wheeler for his aggressive efforts to undo Obama-era environmental regulations. Although EPA was already working on rolling back rules when he arrived last spring, since his ascension to acting administrator Wheeler has released proposals scaling back climate rules and mercury limits for coal-fired power plants, emissions standards for cars and trucks, and guidelines for which waterways are subject to federal regulations.

But his scandal-free tenure atop EPA will deprive Democrats of many of the same sort of ethics complaints they made against his predecessor, Scott Pruitt. Wheeler is all but guaranteed to have the votes to pass. All Senate Republicans voted to confirm him as deputy, as did Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

It is unclear how long it will take to confirm him. Wheeler is already running EPA in an acting capacity, and the Senate is dealing with an ongoing shutdown and the need to fill other high-profile positions atop the Departments of Defense, Justice and Interior.

What's next: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing with Wheeler before advancing his nomination.

This article tagged under: EPA

Andrew Wheeler