Senate Confirms Former Coal Lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as Deputy EPA Administrator

“Scott Pruitt’s tenure at EPA has been marked by scandal, coziness with lobbyists, and attacks on clean air and water safeguards. Mr. Pruitt now has a deputy who is fully aligned with that agenda – and who has made millions for his firm in representing some of the biggest polluters in America.

“Andrew Wheeler has devoted his career to defending the interests of major polluters. If scandal forces Administrator Scott Pruitt from office, our leading environmental agency will be run by a coal lobbyist. It’s like letting tobacco lobbyists run the FDA.

“Mr. Wheeler’s corporate clients want to overturn rules limiting mercury pollution, carbon pollution, and air pollution that crosses state lines. The result will be more air and water pollution, more asthma attacks and health problems, and greater threats to the health of American families. That will not only be the legacy of Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Pruitt, but of the senators who voted to confirm them.

“As a top lobbyist for coal and energy companies, Mr. Wheeler has unprecedented conflicts of interest as he becomes the second most powerful person at the Environmental Protection Agency. We applaud the Democratic Senators who rightly challenged these unparalleled conflicts of interest and voted against his confirmation.”

—Jeremy Symons, Senior Advisor, EDF Action