Earlier this week, we learned that Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt considers flying coach to be a security risk. Under fire for routinely booking seats in business or first class, when significantly cheaper accommodations toward the rear of the plan would’ve sufficed, Pruitt explained to a New Hampshire newspaper that “we live in a very toxic environment politically, particularly around issues of the environment,” and that due to some “incidents,” his security team had decided it was much safer for him to sit in the part of the plane where the champagne is on the house. Now, we’ve learned the details of some of those “incidents” that necessitated his upgrade.

“He was approached in the airport numerous times, to the point of profanities being yelled at him and so forth,” Henry Barnet, director of the E.P.A.’s Office of Criminal Enforcement, told Politico. According to Barnet, a person at an Atlanta airport once approached Pruitt and yelled, “Scott Pruitt, you’re fucking up the environment,” or something in “those sort of terms.” Apparently, individuals going up to the E.P.A. administrator and making completely factual statements was a bridge too far, because not long after that the agent in charge of Pruitt’s security detail decided “it would be better suited to have [Pruitt] in business or first class, away from close proximity from those individuals who were approaching him and being extremely rude, using profanities and potential for altercations and so forth.” It’s not totally clear why the security team believes that only people flying coach think Pruitt is a prick who deserves to be told as much, but perhaps they’ll address that at a later date.

Barnet’s explanation comes after E.P.A. officials flip-flopped on their claim that Pruitt has a “blanket waiver” to fly first and or business class at taxpayers’ expense, which is goes against federal rules. (According to the General Services Administration, approval must be granted “on a trip-by-trip basis . . . unless the traveler has an up-to-date documented disability or special need.”) With Democrats calling for an Inspector General investigation, E.P.A. spokesman Jahan Wilcox quickly amended the statement, clarifying that Pruitt submits a separate waiver for every flight.

Unfortunately for Pruitt, not everyone is buying his I have to fly first class for my protection line of thinking. On Wednesday, Republican Senator John Kennedy told Politico, “I would be embarrassed to get on a plane, sit down in first class and have my constituents pass me by and see me in first class.” On the bright side, unlike previous members of the administration, Pruitt‘s pricey travel habits do not seem to have put his job at risk. Whereas Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was shown the door in September after it emerged that he routinely booked the most luxurious seats for business travel, Pruitt’s standing with the White House does not seem to be diminished. Apparently you can’t put a price tag on keeping the coal, oil, and gas industries happy.