Pruitt Spending on Security More Than Doubled in 11 Months: IG Report

"WASHINGTON — The cost of the security services to protect Scott Pruitt, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, more than doubled in Mr. Pruitt’s first 11 months on the job and the agency failed to justify his requests for protection, according to a report released Tuesday by the E.P.A.’s inspector general.

The audit found no documented evidence to support Mr. Pruitt’s need for round-the-clock security. Previous E.P.A. administrators typically had received door-to-door escorts.

The cost to taxpayers of protecting the E.P.A. chief grew from $1.6 million spent on security for one of his Obama-era predecessors, Gina McCarthy, to $3.5 million for Mr. Pruitt, the inspector general found."

Lisa Friedman and Coral Davenport report for the New York Times September 4, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Lacked Justification, Authority For Pruitt’S 24/7 Security Detail, Watchdog Finds" (Washington Post)

"EPA Watchdog Faults Agency For Pruitt’S 24/7 Security Costs" (AP)

"EPA: Agency Failed To Justify Pruitt's Security Spending — IG" (Greenwire)

"Report: EPA Asserts Statutory Law Enforcement Authority to Protect Its Administrator but Lacks Procedures to Assess Threats and Identify the Proper Level of Protection" (EPA Office of Inspector General)