By Safvan Allahverdi
WASHINGTON (AA) – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, who gained notoriety for his lavish spending, ethical lapses and controversial management decisions, resigned Thursday.
The announcement came from President Donald Trump, who said on Twitter that he had accepted Pruitt's resignation.
“I have accepted the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Within the Agency, Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this, ” Trump said in a tweet.
Trump also announced that the agency's deputy administrator, former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, will become its acting chief.
“The Senate confirmed Deputy at EPA, Andrew Wheeler, will on Monday assume duties as the acting Administrator of the EPA. I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright! ” he added.
Pruitt has come under heavy criticism for his involvement in numerous scandals since his appointment.
He has been accused of spending excessive amounts of taxpayer dollars while traveling abroad, with media reports last year claiming he spent nearly $68,000 in taxpayer money traveling first class and staying in expensive hotels, over $40,000 for a soundproof booth for his office as well as $830,000 for round-the-clock security in his first three months in office.
Additionally, he was accused of using two secret EPA email addresses and having a chief of security who had heated confrontations with EPA officials who criticized Pruitt’s lavish spending.
He also allegedly asked aides to do personal favors for him and his family, including helping his wife find work.
