"WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency violated the law when it installed a soundproof phone booth for the administrator, Scott Pruitt, at a cost of roughly $43,000, a congressional watchdog agency ruled on Monday.

The congressional agency, the Government Accountability Office, said in a report that the E.P.A. had not notified Congress as required before spending more than $5,000 on office equipment.

In a separate report Monday, the E.P.A.’s inspector general published records showing that Mr. Pruitt’s chief of staff signed off on hires and thousands of dollars in raises for political appointees under a provision of a clean water law. That report was part of an ongoing audit of salaries and hiring practices at the agency."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times April 16, 2018. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Scott Pruitt’s $43,000 Soundproof Phone Booth Violated Spending Laws, Federal Watchdog Finds" (Washington Post) [3]

"Watchdog: Pruitt’s Chief Of Staff Responsible For Aides’ Controversial Raises" (The Hill) [4]

"EPA: Agency's Handling Of Pruitt Phone Booth Broke Law — GAO" (Greenwire) [5]