"EPA: IG To Audit Pruitt's Hiring"
"U.S. EPA's internal watchdog plans to review Administrator Scott Pruitt's use of a special hiring authority to fill top political jobs at the agency."
"U.S. EPA's internal watchdog plans to review Administrator Scott Pruitt's use of a special hiring authority to fill top political jobs at the agency."
"The Democratic attorneys general of 12 states say Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt needs to recuse himself from all matters related to the repeal of the Obama administration’s climate change rule for power plants."
"The administration's culture of denialism and support for fossil fuels has pushed rollbacks of policies meant to protect public health, safety and the environment."
"The oil giant is attacking its accusers through a Texas court, similar to how it tried to block investor fraud investigations by New York and Massachusetts."
"Nearly a year into the Trump administration, mentions of climate change have been systematically removed, altered or played down on websites across the federal government, according to a report made public Wednesday."
"The Interior Department has adopted a new screening process for the discretionary grants it makes to outside groups, instructing staff to ensure those awards “promote the priorities” of the Trump administration."
"President Trump’s first year in office has been a boon for the coal industry, with the Trump administration rolling back regulations on coal-fired power plants and withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate change agreement."
"President Donald Trump’s administration will not allow drilling for oil and gas off the coast of Florida after urging from the state’s governor, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said on Tuesday."
The 2018 elections may prove highly consequential for environment and energy policy, possibly slowing or even reversing the Trump-GOP deregulatory agenda. The latest Issue Backgrounder helps reporters frame the choices voters face, including environmental justice and offshore drilling.
The battle over environment and energy issues may ultimately come down to U.S. courts, where, unlike Congress and White House, the GOP doesn't hold sway ... yet. This week's TipSheet looks at a dozen major legal issues making news in 2018, like wetlands protection, and offers story ideas and resources to cover them.