May 03, 2018
By Heidi Vogt –
The top spokeswoman for Environmental Protection Agency is leaving the agency, the third departure this week of an aide close to Administrator Scott Pruitt, who is facing investigations into management and spending practices.
Liz Bowman’s announcement follows the exit of two other top EPA officials—Mr. Pruitt’s head of security and the administrator of the Superfund program that cleans up toxic-waste sites.
She told The Wall Street Journal in an email that she is leaving for a congressional position, becoming communications director for Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa).
Ms. Bowman called the new position “an opportunity I couldn’t pass up to serve Senator Ernst and the people of Iowa.”
”Being a member of the EPA team has allowed me to further my skills, learn from my mistakes, and make lifelong friendships,” she said in a statement issued Thursday
Mr. Pruitt is under investigation by the White House, inspector general of the EPA, House oversight committee and Government Accountability Office over spending on security, lodging, and travel, along with allegations that he pushed out staffers who criticized his decisions. He has denied the allegations and noted that ethics officers cleared the actions.
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is “to protect human health and the environment.” Disgraced EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt tried his best to undermine this vital mission by choosing to slash critical health protections and let corporate polluters off the hook. Now that Pruitt’s been booted, we need an EPA administrator dedicated to undoing his toxic agenda and restoring the agency to its core mission. Progress is possible and necessary – but another corporate crony or climate skeptic will not get us there.
Scott Pruitt is gone, but the fight is just beginning. We need an EPA administrator who puts our health and environment first, period. Any alternative is unacceptable.
