A Look At Environmental Policy In Scott Pruitt’s EPA

Scott Pruitt
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, center, before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Scott Pruitt
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, center, before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, in the Roosevelt Room in the White House in Washington, which directs the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which expands the number of waterways that are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

A Look At Environmental Policy In Scott Pruitt’s EPA

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President Donald Trump’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated he does not agree with established science that carbon dioxide is a major cause of global warming.

Scott Pruitt said in an interview Thursday on CNBC, “I would not agree that [CO2] is a primary contributor to the global warming that we see.” Pruitt added, “I believe that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do, and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact”.  

As attorney general of Oklahoma, Pruitt sued the EPA numerous times. He’s also stated his skepticism about the toxicity of mercury pollution. Meanwhile, employees at the EPA are bracing for massive budget cuts. 

We discuss the EPA’s future and environmental policy in the Trump era with Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center.