Graham cheers Pruitt’s resignation: ‘It was time for a change at EPA’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Thursday that President Trump was “right” to accept outgoing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s resignation.

“I believe the President was right to accept @EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s resignation. Like President [Donald Trump] I appreciate all of Scott’s efforts to roll back the Obama Administration’s burdensome regulations,” Graham tweeted. “But it has become increasingly clear it was time for a change at EPA.”

The GOP lawmaker went on to say that he is confident in Trump’s pick for Pruitt’s replacement, noting that he looks forward to confirming a new agency head “who will ensure we have a healthy economy and healthy environment.”

{mosads}Graham’s remarks came shortly after Trump tweeted on Thursday that he had accepted Pruitt’s resignation. Pruitt resigned following months of high-profile controversies regarding his spending and ethics while serving as the agency’s head. 

“Within the Agency Scott has done an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him for this,” Trump said in his tweet announcing Pruitt’s resignation.

Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler will assume Pruitt’s position Monday.

“I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright!” Trump wrote.