Trump’s EPA Pick Doesn’t Believe In Climate Change

by Kelly Walters

So far Trump’s cabinet picks have been a real who’s who of the absolute worst kind of people in the country. And his most recent choice is no exception. Wednesday, Trump selected Scott Pruitt, a close friend of the fossil fuel industry, to run the Environmental Protection Agency.

Not only does Pruitt not believe in climate change (You know, that scientifically proven phenomenon), but for the past few years he has primarily worked to fight President Obama’s climate change policies. As the attorney general of Oklahoma, Pruitt coordinated legal effort to attempt to dismantle Obama’s Clean Power Plan. Although it’s unlikely for Obama’s efforts to be scrapped altogether at this point, it would be possible for Pruitt to weaken the laws in his new position of power.

Given all that I’m sure you won’t be shocked to learn that Pruitt also receives tons of money from the fossil fuel industry. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, Pruitt has received more than $314,000 from the fossil fuel industry since 2002. He’s also been caught sending letters to federal agencies, and the president, that had been written by energy industry lawyers, in what the New York Times called an “unprecedented, secretive alliance.”

Seems chill!

Don’t worry though, Pruitt has a lot of history with the EPA; he’s sued them on multiple occasions.

Since 2011, Pruitt has sued the EPA to stop protections for public health in Oklahoma, protections against emissions of mercury, arsenic, acid gases and other toxic pollutants from power plants, and standards to improve air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. And now, after years of trying to undermine the vital agency, he’s going to run it.

The role of the EPA is pretty self-explanatory: to protect the environment and human health. But it seems like Pruitt will be playing a lot of online solitaire during his time in office, as he has no history of caring about the protection of our planet, and is not likely to draft any kind of protective laws.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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