Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s taxpayer-covered tab continues to skyrocket, even surpassing embattled Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. Since taking office in January, Pruitt has spent at least close to $60,000 on private planes, nearly $25,000 on a soundproof privacy booth in his already secure EPA office, and more than $830,000 in only a three month period on unprecedented of around-the-clock security, totalling close to a $1 million tab for the American taxpayers.
Secretary Price is facing threats to be fired by Trump for racking up a fraction of what Pruitt has.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“Scott Pruitt cares about one thing in the world: himself. Since taking office, Pruitt has proven to be nothing more than an embarrassment for an already beleaguered Trump administration, wasting hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on himself while throwing out every clean air and water safeguard possible to please corporate polluters. Pruitt’s transparent agenda is obvious and, if Trump wants to avoid another damaging scandal, he’d fire him as soon as possible. If Trump fails to hold Pruitt to the same standards to which he seems to be holding Tom Price, then Congress must fulfill its duty and investigate Pruitt.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.