Government

"A top Interior Department official broke a federal ethics rule by improperly meeting with his former employer, a conservative research organization, to discuss the rollback of endangered species protections that the group had been pushing, the department’s internal watchdog said in a report published Tuesday."

"EPA has hired another political appointee in its air regulatory office who has a long history of suing the agency."

"Most U.S. states have cut funding and staffing at their environmental agencies over the past decade, according to a study by a green advocacy group, raising questions about the Trump administration’s policy to shift more enforcement of federal environmental laws to states."

"The Bureau of Land Management appears poised to lose the majority of its Washington, D.C.-based staff as part of its plans to relocate out West next year, numerous sources both within and outside the bureau have told E&E News."

"The Senate on Monday confirmed Dan Brouillette, a former lobbyist for Ford Motor Company, to be President Trump’s second secretary of energy, replacing Rick Perry, who has become embroiled in the impeachment proceedings against Mr. Trump."

"Despite alarms raised by EPA's watchdog office and legal staff, Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson switched a top political appointee's workplace from San Francisco to Los Angeles, moving him closer to home."

"William D. Ruckelshaus, a member of the Nixon administration who is considered the "father" of EPA, died today [Wednesday].

"At least 11 department officials have cashed out for jobs with fossil fuel interests, lobbying firms or other private companies."

"The pork producers were worried. A looming regulation at EPA threatened to cost hog farms time and money. So a lobbyist for the National Pork Producers Council shot an email to EPA's top political staffer, Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson. The reply likely inspired relief."