Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel today requesting an investigation into whether there is a pattern of prohibited personnel practices taking place at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The top Democrats’ request follows reports of at least six EPA officials reportedly being reassigned, demoted, or requesting new jobs in the past year after raising concerns with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s management and excessive spending of taxpayer funds.
“These employees reportedly raised concerns-in some instances directly to Administrator Pruitt-regarding abnormally high spending on office furniture, first class flights, and security demands by Administrator Pruitt, such as a twenty-person security detail and a request for a bullet-proof vehicle," Pallone and Cummings wrote.
“The reassignment or dismissal of employees who questioned Administrator Pruitt’s wasteful and potentially unlawful expenditures suggests a troubling pattern of retaliation against EPA employees that may be illegal," Pallone and Cummings continued. “We therefore request that you conduct an investigation to determine whether any prohibited personnel practices, or a pattern of prohibited personnel practices, occurred or continue to exist at EPA."
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel is an independent federal agency whose primary mission is to safeguard the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, including reprisal for whistleblowing.
