Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s “Back to Basics” memo instructing the EPA to begin factoring “economic effects” into its decisions on setting clean air standards: “Scott Pruitt’s latest attempt to undermine air pollution standards set by the Clean Air Act is illegal and immoral. The only ‘basics’ that his actions would take us ‘back to’ are t... Read more »

Today, Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Judiciary, and Reps. Zoe Lofgren ... Read more »

ARL Now President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Iran is prompting condemnation from Arlington’s congressional delegation. Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that he plans to reimpose economic sanctions on Iran, reversing an agreement hammered out by President Barack Obama’s administration and a variety of other countries to slow Iran’s p... Read more »

Government Executive A group of congressional Democrats on Tuesday asked a Justice Department watchdog to investigate allegations that the department improperly considered job candidates’ political views during the hiring process. In a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, eight Democratic lawmakers highlighted whistleblower accounts that prospective agency employees had... Read more »

The Hill Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) on Monday tore into President Trump's tweet attacking special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, saying that Trump wasn’t “a king” who could shut down the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. “Getting competent lawyers to represent you has been a challenge, but there must be someone who can explain to you what 'obstruction of justice' ... Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the reported resignation of John Konkus, the EPA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Public Affairs: “Scott Pruitt’s toxicity has infected the upper echelons of EPA leadership, and the process of cleaning this mess must begin with Pruitt’s dismissal,” said Rep. Beyer. “Mr. Konkus’ tenure at EPA was emblematic of the way that special interests... Read more »

Bloomberg The fourth departure this week of an Environmental Protection Agency official was announced on Friday, in a move suggesting continued fallout from the controversies swirling around Administrator Scott Pruitt. John Konkus, the agency’s deputy associate administrator for public affairs, is leaving to lead communications at the Small Business Administration. On Thursday, it was announced th... Read more »

Think Progress Staff departures from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have become so common that they rarely make news anymore — since Administrator Scott Pruitt took control of the EPA in 2017, more than 700 employees have left the agency. But this week, as federal investigations surrounding Pruitt’s ethical scandals continue to mount, four departures in particular made headlines, as off... Read more »

Rep. Don Beyer today sent a letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) requesting a hearing on the status of Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Beyer wrote: “Dear Chairman Bishop: I write to request that you hold a hearing regarding the status of Puerto Rico’s recovery. It is our responsibility as the primary committee of jurisdiction for Puerto Rico... Read more »

New York Times A Washington consultant who was removed from President Trump’s transition team for using his business email address for government work played a central role last year in planning a trip to Australia for Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and then took steps to disguise his role, new documents show. The consultant, Matthew C. Freedman, who is also a forme... Read more »