600 ex-EPA officials want Congress to investigate 'inappropriate threat of use' of authority

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/10/politics/former-epa-officials-letter-to-congress/index.html

Washington (CNN)Nearly 600 former Environmental Protection Agency officials are calling on Congress to investigate the Trump administration's "inappropriate threat of use of EPA authority" against the state of California over recent environmental policies.

Five hundred ninety-three former officials who worked under Republican and Democratic administrations signed a letter sent to the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday requesting an investigation into EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler's threat to withhold federal highway funds from the state. They also want an investigation into Wheeler's demand that the state take action regarding its homelessness crisis. The officials write in the letter that both actions "were intended as retaliation for the state's failure to support President Trump's political agenda."

CNN has reached out to the EPA for comment.

EPA officials who signed the letter include:

Eric Schaeffer, who was director of the EPA's Office of Regulatory Enforcement during the George W. Bush administration and is now director of the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project.

Elizabeth Southerland, who resigned from her role as director of science and technology in the EPA's Office of Water in 2017.
Gina McCarthy, who was EPA administrator during the Obama administration.

Cynthia Giles, who was EPA assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance during the Obama administration.

"Mr. Wheeler's actions cannot be treated as legitimate uses of EPA's authority taken for the purpose of advancing environmental protection, especially considering the current Administration's record," officials write in the letter, sent out by the Environmental Integrity Project.

The request is the latest in the fight between the Trump administration and the Golden State over environmental policies. In early September, President Donald Trump threatened to have the agency take action against the city of San Francisco over its homelessness crisis. Wheeler sent a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, blaming the state for the crisis and said in a statement that the EPA would be "forced to take action" if the state didn't meet its "environmental obligations." The EPA also threatened later that month to withhold federal highway funds from California if it didn't rescind 130 air quality plans.

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Of course Trump's EPA would behave this way.

[Doodley]

1. Each one of these EPA officials is a national hero.

[Duppers]

2. K & R

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Another thing to add to the list Speaker Pelosi

[kwolf68]

4. But of course...

Just "draining the swamp" I see.