EPA and Its Leader Face Problems

Washington, DC —(Map)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a government group that was created to protect human health and the environment in the US. Now the EPA and its leader, Scott Pruitt, are facing problems.

The EPA was started in 1970 to protect people and the environment in the US. The group makes rules and then makes sure that people and businesses follow the rules. The EPA’s work has made a huge difference in cleaning up the land, water, and air in the US since it first began.

Scott Pruitt is now the leader of the EPA. Many people were surprised when he was chosen by President Trump. Before he was chosen, Mr. Pruitt spent a lot of time attacking the EPA. He took the EPA to court 14 times. He thought that the EPA’s rules made it too hard for businesses.

Since taking over as the leader of the EPA, Mr. Pruitt has changed many of the ideas that used to be important to the EPA. He is working to make the rules easier on businesses.

In the past, the EPA made many decisions based on science. Mr. Pruitt has worked to limit what EPA scientists can say. He has also made a new rule that will force the EPA to ignore many scientific studies.

The EPA’s ideas about climate change  have become very different since Mr. Pruitt took over. Mr. Pruitt says he does not agree with over 97% of scientists, who say human actions are causing climate change. He has changed the EPA website and removed many parts which talked about climate change. This includes teaching pages for children, such as “a student’s guide to Global Climate Change”.

Many of Mr. Pruitt’s actions at the EPA have helped fossil fuel businesses, such as oil, gas, and coal companies. Recently the EPA said it would change the rules so that cars and trucks could use more gas in the future. Now California and 16 other states are asking the courts to stop those changes.

Mr. Pruitt went before Congress   last week. He was asked to explain the money he has been spending. Mr. Pruitt has spent millions of dollars traveling around the world. One trip to Morocco cost $100,000. He has given big raises to some people who work closely with him. He has also spent a lot of money on special changes to his office. One example is a soundproof phone booth that cost $43,000 to build. Mr. Pruitt told Congress that he had “nothing to hide,” but some members of Congress have asked him to quit.