Sunday, April 16, 2017

Pruitt Requests Around-The-Clock Security Detail As Deep Cuts Loom At EPA

Caitlin Macneal · Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 2:48 pm

Though the Trump administration has requested deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, the department is looking for an increase in security for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the New York Times reported this week.

The EPA has asked to add 10 security agents to provide a 24/7 security detail for Pruitt, which would be the first time an EPA administrator has had around-the-clock security, according to the New York Times.

According to an E&E News report resurfaced on Wednesday by Quartz, the EPA’s criminal enforcement office had expected the request for additional security.

The EPA currently does not have enough agents to provide a 24/7 detail, and between 2008 and 2010, the administrator’s security staff ranged from six to eight employees, according to E&E News. Past administrators only had door-to-door security protections where agents would accompany them to and from work, and travel with them to events and trips, per the report.

Myron Ebell, who led President Donald Trump’s EPA transition team, told E&E News in February that the additional security agents could help protect Pruitt from protesters and his department’s own employees.

“I think it’s prudent given the continuing activities by the left to foment hatred, and the reported hostility within the agency from some unprofessional activists,” he said.

Source
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/epa-scott-pruitt-24-7-security-request

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