Official: Trump wants to slash EPA workforce, budget

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The former head of President Donald Trump's transition team at the Environmental Protection Agency says he expects the new administration to seek significant budget and staff cuts.

Myron Ebell said in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press that Trump is likely to seek significant reductions to the agency's workforce — currently about 15,000 employees nationwide. Ebell, who left the transition team last week, declined to discuss specific numbers of EPA staff that could be targeted for pink slips.

Asked what he would personally like to see, however, Ebell said slashing the agency's size by about half would be a good start.

"Let's aim for half and see how it works out, and then maybe we'll want to go further," said Ebell, who has returned to his position as director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/official-trump-wants-to-slash-epa-workforce-budget/ar-AAmix8d?li=BBnb7Kz

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. This should be the new EPA symbol.

[Locrian]

2. the stupid....it burns

"The fact is that in modern society we have the technology to deal with environmental challenges, and that's why people live in Phoenix," Ebell said. "Because warm is good, as long as we have air conditioning."

This guy things in extremely simple terms - with no consciousness of the cost of human activity.

I think our advances in technology (and corresponding lack of natural selection) are catching up to us. Idiots like this should have gotten eaten by a tiger a long time ago.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Suggested rebranding: Environmental Rejection Agency. NT

[Freethinker65]

4. If Pruitt gets confirmed, will we even have an EPA?

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. Start fracking by all of Trump's golf courses and hotels n/t

[maxrandb]

6. That's not how it works

They will be sure to leave a few people in place to ensure fracking, drilling and toxic waste dumping doesn't occur close to where the 1% live.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. Like Rex Tillerson nixing fracking near his house n/t

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. If they like dirty water so much

They're welcome to drink from my septic tank. I won't have to get it pumped as often.