Virginia Senate Rejects Wheeler in Rebuke of Gov. Youngkin’s Threat to Progress on Climate

VIRGINIA -- Today, the Virginia Senate rejected Governor Youngkin’s nomination of former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. Since the announcement of his nomination, Andrew Wheeler has seen former EPA workers, the Washington Post Editorial Board, and numerous environmental advocacy groups have decried the selection. 

The legislature rejected Wheeler due to his background as a coal lobbyist and as a reckless EPA Administrator, where he sidelined scientists and worked to restrict the use of scientific data in agency rule-making, rolled back dozens of clean air and water safeguards, and prioritized polluters over the agency’s mission. This is the second rejection of Wheeler by senate Democrats after the Privileges and Elections committee refused to approve Wheeler’s nomination last week.

In response, Kate West, Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, released the following statement:

“We commend Democratic state senators for heeding Virginians' calls and rejecting one of the most dangerous cabinet nominations in recent memory. Virginians want their clean air, clean water, and communities protected, not sold out to corporate polluters. The Governor’s overt disregard for our environment, climate, and the people’s demands threaten the health and future of our communities. We stopped him today, and we’ll continue to mobilize to do so throughout his time in Richmond.”