Trump to nominate acting EPA chief as agency’s administrator

US President Donald Trump said he intends to nominate acting US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler as the agency’s administrator. The announcement came during a Nov. 16 Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House attended by Wheeler and other administration officials.

Wheeler has been the agency’s acting administrator since July 5 when Trump named him to the position after then-EPA Administrator E. Scott Pruitt resigned. Wheeler, who was the agency’s deputy administrator at the time, must be confirmed by the US Senate before he takes over as administrator.

He previously was a special assistant in EPA’s Pollution Prevention and Toxics office during George H.W. Bush’s presidency. Wheeler also was co-chair of the Energy and Natural Resources team at the Faegre Baker Daniels law firm, which he joined as counsel in 2009.

Prior to his work there, Wheeler served for 6 years as the majority staff director and chief counsel, as well as minority staff director, at the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].