At the Environmental Protection Agency there is rejoicing among staff members who are only too happy to see Administrator Scott Pruitt kicked to the curb by President Trump, who tired of his faithful servant's personal transgressions, even though he was probably the most adoring sycophant in the administration.
“I am happy,” said one 15-year veteran as he left work. “He was never accepted. If you are going to be the environment chief, the environment has to be your passion.”
Instead, killing the environment for Trump was Pruitt's passion.
In his resignation letter, Pruitt said it was "God's Providence" that brought Trump to the Presidency and it was that same "Providence" that brought Pruitt to the EPA, where he was charged with doing Trump's bidding to undue every environmental advance achieved by President Obama.
If ever there was a fox in the chicken coop it was Pruitt. Trump simply scorns the idea of climate change, of the need to curb industrial pollution, to protect air and water from contamination. He hired Pruitt to do his bidding, and one thing is certain, Pruitt was his faithful servant -- even if he did require a $43,000 soundproof phone booth, first class air fare and insider assistance to help his wife land a cushy $200,000 per year job. Of course, there was much more.
Here's the text of Pruitt's resignation letter:
Mr. President, it has been an honor to serve you in the Cabinet as Administrator of the EPA. Truly, your confidence in me has blessed me personally and enabled me to advance your agenda beyond what anyone anticipated at the beginning of your Administration. Your courage, steadfastness and resolute commitment to get results for the American people, both with regard to improved environmental outcomes as well as historical regulatory reform, is in fact occurring at an unprecedented pace and I thank you for the opportunity to serve you and the American people in helping achieve those ends.
That is why is hard for me to advise you I am stepping down as Administrator of the EPA effective as of July 6. It is extremely difficult for me to cease serving you in this role first because I count it a blessing to be serving you in any capacity, but also, because of the transformative work that is occurring. However, the unrelenting attacks on me personally, my family, are unprecedented and have taken a sizable toll on all of us.
My desire in service to you has always been to bless you as you make important decisions for the American people. I believe you are serving as President today because of God’s providence. I believe that same providence brought me into your service. I pray as I have served you that I have blessed you and enabled you to effectively lead the American people. Thank you again Mr. President for the honor of serving you and I wish you Godspeed in all that you put your hand to.
Your Faithful Friend,
Scott Pruitt
Replacing Pruitt as acting administrator is Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, who is expected to continue the anti-regulatory push demanded by Trump.
Tweeted Trump, "I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!"
Right.