President Trump to nominate former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as head of Environmental Protection Agency

Show Caption Hide Caption EPA acting chief reassures agency's staffers The new acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency is telling agency staffers that he has their backs and will seek their input as he sets the way forward for the troubled agency. (July 11)

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to nominate acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler as the permanent head of the environmental agency.

"He’s done a fantastic job and I want to congratulate him," Trump said about Wheeler during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Wheeler was in the audience attending the event when the president made the announcement.

"Congratulations, Andrew," Trump said, as a casual aside during the formal ceremony. "Great job.”

Wheeler, a former EPA bureaucrat, Capitol Hill aide and energy lobbyist known for his low-key manner, was named acting administrator in July after the ouster of his embattled predecessor Scott Pruitt. At the time, Wheeler was Pruitt's deputy.

Wheeler, who turns 54 next month, still must be confirmed by the Senate before he can be the EPA's permanent chief. The Senate confirmed him as Pruitt's deputy in April by a 53-45 vote that largely cut along partisan lines.

Though not as controversial or ethically compromised as Pruitt, Wheeler is opposed by a number of environmental groups who sharply criticize the president's aggressive efforts to undo Obama-era rules designed to protect the environment and address climate change.

Critics also have raised questions about whether his past lobbying for clients poses a conflict.

“As acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler has pushed policies that would damage our health and environment," Ana Unruh Cohen, managing director for government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement. "He doesn’t deserve a promotion.”

Industry advocates praised the move.

“Andrew Wheeler’s background shows that he has the capacity to advance an appropriate balance of energy, environmental and economic considerations in a manner consistent with open administrative process and respect for rule of law," said Scott Segal, a lobbyist with Bracewell, which represents energy firms. "He’s a good pick to lead the Agency.”

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