President Trump expressed confidence in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt on Saturday, appearing to dismiss the controversies swirling around the official.
“While Security spending was somewhat more than his predecessor, Scott Pruitt has received death threats because of his bold actions at EPA,” Trump tweeted. “Record clean Air & Water while saving USA Billions of Dollars. Rent was about market rate, travel expenses OK. Scott is doing a great job!”
{mosads}
Pruitt has found himself at the center of multiple controversies in recent weeks.
In particular, he has come under fire after it was revealed that he rented a room in a condo owned by the wife of a prominent energy lobbyist during his first several months in D.C. That rental cost him $50 a day, and he only paid for nights that he slept there.
He is also under scrutiny for raises authorized for two of his top staffers and hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on travel and security. Pruitt has denied any wrongdoing.
The controversies have prompted speculation that Trump could soon move to dismiss Pruitt from the EPA. He ousted Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, who had faced controversies of his own, late last month.
But Trump also said Thursday that he had confidence in Pruitt, telling reporters that the EPA had done a “fantastic job.”
“I think he’s done a fantastic job. I think he’s done an incredible job,” Trump said. “He’s been very courageous.”