President Trump’s top environmental regulator on Tuesday unveiled his proposal to reverse Obama administration standards on vehicle emissions.
Scott Pruitt touted the move in an announcement at the Environmental Protection Agency, amid a new storm of controversy over his ethics practices.
“This President has had tremendous courage in saying to the American people that America is going to be put first,” Pruitt said. The move, if upheld, will cancel new rules on models slated to come out in the middle of next decade.
Pruitt has come under fire in the past few days, after ABC News revealed that the EPA Director rents a Capitol Hill condo for $50 per night, from a couple that includes an energy lobbyist.
The cost of Pruitt’s first-class travel–$105,000 since his Senate confirmation—has also been scrutinized recently by Republican lawmakers, as The Daily Beast reported last month.
Heaping fuel on the fire, The Washington Post on Monday revealed that Pruitt’s staffers considered renting a private jet, for $100,000 per month, to accommodate his travel schedule.
Amid rumors that Pruitt’s job was in jeopardy, Trump phoned the EPA head on Monday to offer him reassurances. The President told Pruitt: “we’ve got your back” and “keep fighting,” the AP reported on Tuesday.
As Politico noted, however, Trump has been known to quickly turn on officials he praises, “as was the case with former national security adviser H.R. McMaster.”
Trump himself may have only caused Pruitt more job security concerns, when asked about the EPA head on Tuesday morning. “I hope he’s going to be great,” the President said.
