Watchdog: EPA Hasn't Justified Failure To Recover Pruitt Travel Spending

"An internal watchdog said Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t provided a good explanation for its decision not to recover travel expenses from former Administrator Scott Pruitt that were found to be improper.

In a new update to a report from last year, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) said the agency decided it won’t try to recoup the costs but “has not provided sufficient justification to support the basis of the determination, that is, evidence that a security risk existed at the time.”

A 2018 inspector general report found that Pruitt and his staff spent $123,942 on “excessive airfare expenses ... without sufficient justification to support security concerns requiring the use of first- and business-class travel.” It recommended that the EPA demand reimbursement from Pruitt for his share of the expenses."

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill June 30, 2020.

Source: The Hill, 07/01/2020