CLOSE The new acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency is telling agency staffers that he has their backs and will seek their input as he sets the way forward for the troubled agency. (July 11) AP 
 
 Acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency Andrew Wheeler. (Photo: Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber-USA TODAY NETWORK) 
 
 WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to nominate acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler as the permanent head of the environmental agency. 
 
 "He’s done a fantastic job and I want to congratulate him," Trump said about Wheeler during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Wheeler was in the audience attending the event when the president made the announcement. 
 
 "Congratulations, Andrew," Trump said, as a casual aside during the formal ceremony. "Great job.” 
 
 Wheeler, a former EPA bureaucrat, Capitol Hill aide and energy lobbyist known for his low-key manner, was named acting administrator in July after the ouster of his embattled predecessor Scott Pruitt. At the time, Wheeler was Pruitt's deputy. 
 
 Wheeler, who turns 54 next month, still must be confirmed by the Senate before he can be the EPA's permanent chief. The Senate confirmed him as Pruitt's deputy in April by a 53-45 vote that largely cut along partisan lines. 
 
 Though not as controversial or ethically compromised as Pruitt, Wheeler is opposed by a number of environmental groups who sharply criticize the president's aggressive efforts to undo Obama-era rules designed to protect the environment and address climate change. 
 
 Critics also have raised questions about whether his past lobbying for clients poses a conflict. 
 
 “As acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler has pushed policies that would damage our health and environment," Ana Unruh Cohen, managing director for government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement. "He doesn’t deserve a promotion.” 
 
 Industry advocates praised the move. 
 
 “Andrew Wheeler’s background shows that he has the capacity to advance an appropriate balance of energy, environmental and economic considerations in a manner consistent with open administrative process and respect for rule of law," said Scott Segal, a lobbyist with Bracewell, which represents energy firms. "He’s a good pick to lead the Agency.” 
 
 More: Andrew Wheeler is no Scott Pruitt - seven things to know about the acting EPA administrator 
 
 More: Trump administration to freeze Obama-era fuel standards for cars, light trucks 
 
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 President Trump said Friday that he intends to nominate former industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as the Environmental Protection Agency’s next administrator, a move that would ensure a continued deregulatory push at the agency. 
 
 Trump made the impromptu announcement during a Medal of Freedom ceremony at the White House, saying that Wheeler had done a “fantastic job” as the agency’s acting administrator in recent months. Wheeler took the helm in early July after Scott Pruitt resigned amid mounting ethics scandals. 
 
 During his brief tenure as the EPA’s acting chief, Wheeler has proved far different from the man he replaced. Where Pruitt was a politician who appeared to enjoy the limelight and trappings of Cabinet life, Wheeler has long worked behind the scenes on energy and environmental policy and generally avoids public attention. Along with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, Wheeler represents the sort of technocrat who has risen through the ranks after an initial Trump Cabinet pick stumbled. 
 
 [Scott Pruitt’s replacement tells EPA employees, ‘When it comes to leadership, you can’t lead unless you listen’] 
 
 But Wheeler and his predecessor have this in common — a zeal to deregulate. Wheeler made clear from the start that he intends to carry out many of the regulatory rollbacks set in motion under Pruitt, and to pursue new ones. 
 
 “I will try to work to implement the president’s agenda,” Wheeler told The Washington Post shortly after he took over the reins at the EPA this summer. “I don’t think the overall agenda is going to change that much, because we’re implementing what the president has laid out for the agency.” 
 
 [Scott Pruitt’s likely successor has long lobbying history on issues before the EPA] 
 
 In the months since, Wheeler has continued to advance Trump’s agenda, proposing rules to loosen carbon limits on power plants and relax fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks. Those proposals, along with moves to change the way the agency calculates the health benefits of new air-pollution standards, have sparked sharp criticism from environmental and public health groups. 
 
 But Wheeler also has struck a more conciliatory tone with career employees at the agency, emphasizing that he once served in their ranks and that he values their service. He also has postponed some of Pruitt’s more controversial regulatory plans, including one relaxing emissions rules for long-haul trucks that place older engines in newer bodies, known as glider kits. 
 
 [EPA to weigh tougher pollution standards for heavy-duty trucks] 
 
 Just this week, Wheeler announced a plan to impose stricter limits on nitrogen-oxide emissions from heavy-duty trucks, winning praise from the trucking industry and the American Lung Association. 
 
 Wheeler, like his predecessor, undoubtedly will have the support of industry. 
 
 “Andrew’s steady hand will help ensure a balanced approach that will continue both environmental progress and economic growth,” said Karen Harbert, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. 
 
 Scott Segal, an energy lobbyist at the Bracewell law firm, called Wheeler “a good pick.” 
 
 “Andrew Wheeler’s background shows that he has the capacity to advance an appropriate balance of energy, environmental and economic considerations in a manner consistent with open administrative process and respect for rule of law,” Segal said in a statement. 
 
 Wheeler stands a strong chance of winning Senate confirmation, though his nomination is still likely to spur debate. He won approval for his current job in April on a 53-to-45 vote, with three Democrats supporting his nomination. At the time, several Democratic senators questioned his past work for Murray Energy, one of the nation’s biggest coal companies, as well as mining companies and other energy interests. 
 
 The top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), said in a statement that he will evaluate how Wheeler has performed in recent months before deciding whether to back his nomination. 
 
 “If the president intends to nominate Andrew Wheeler to be the Administrator of EPA,” Carper said, “then Mr. Wheeler must come before our committee so that members can look at his record as acting administrator objectively to see if any improvements have been made at the agency since he took the helm.” 
 
 Another Democrat, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), was less diplomatic. 
 
 “I hoped Scott Pruitt’s policy dirty work would dry up after he left the EPA in disgrace, but proposals like the forthcoming rule to weaken or eliminate protections against mercury emissions make it clear Andrew Wheeler plans to continue … with rollbacks of vital environmental protections,” Whitehouse said in a statement. 
 
 Environmentalist activists also were quick to criticize the idea of Wheeler as EPA chief. 
 
 “In normal times, a zealous fossil fuel apologist and the top official in charge of protecting children’s health from pollution would be two separate people with conflicting agendas,” said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group. “But this is the Trump administration, where a former top coal lobbyist could become administrator of the EPA.” 

 President Trump Donald John TrumpPentagon update to missile defense doctrine will explore space-base technologies, lasers to counter threats Giuliani: 'I never said there was no collusion' between the Trump campaign and Russia Former congressmen, RNC members appointed to Trump administration roles MORE said he plans to nominate Andrew Wheeler, acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to be the EPA's Senate-confirmed administrator. 
 
 Trump made the announcement Friday during a White House ceremony for Medal of Freedom recipients. 
 
 He said Wheeler “is going to be made permanent,” adding that “he’s done a fantastic job and I want to congratulate him.” 
 
 “Congratulations, Andrew,” Trump said. 
 
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 Before becoming administrator, Trump will have to submit Wheeler's nomination to the Senate. A majority of senators would then need to confirm Wheeler. 
 
 Wheeler became acting administrator in July, when then-EPA chief Scott Pruitt Edward (Scott) Scott PruittOvernight Energy: Wheeler weathers climate criticism at confirmation hearing | Dems want Interior to stop drilling work during shutdown | 2018 was hottest year for oceans Dems blast EPA nominee at confirmation hearing Dem senator expresses concern over acting EPA chief's 'speedy promotion' MORE resigned amid numerous spending and ethics scandals. Wheeler at the time was the EPA’s deputy administrator, a Senate-confirmed position he assumed in April. 
 
 Before working for the government, Wheeler was a lobbyist and lawyer for energy companies such as coal mining giant Murray Energy Corp. 
 
 Earlier in his career, Wheeler worked as a senior aide to Sen. James Inhofe James (Jim) Mountain InhofeDem senator expresses concern over acting EPA chief's 'speedy promotion' Overnight Defense: Senators say questions remain after Syria briefing | Trump inches closer to declaring emergency to build wall | Air Force accepts Boeing tankers despite flaws Senators say questions remain on Trump strategy in Syria after briefing MORE (R-Okla.), who previously led the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. He started out his career at the EPA, working as a career employee on toxic substances policy. 
 
 The White House did not return a request for comment or to clarify Trump’s remarks, nor did the EPA. 
 
 Sen. Tom Carper Thomas (Tom) Richard CarperDems blast EPA nominee at confirmation hearing Last-minute deal extends program to protect chemical plants Dem senator expresses concern over acting EPA chief's 'speedy promotion' MORE (Del.), the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee — which would handle the initial hearing and vote on Wheeler's nomination — didn't completely write off Wheeler as a potential administrator. 
 
 Carper has made known his preference for Wheeler over Pruitt. The senator said Wheeler is worse at the job than past Republican administrators William Ruckelshaus and Christine Todd Whitman. 
 
 "If the president intends to nominate Andrew Wheeler to be the Administrator of EPA, then Mr. Wheeler must come before our committee so that members can look at his record as acting administrator objectively to see if any improvements have been made at the agency since he took the helm," he said in a statement. 
 
 Wheeler has brought a quieter voice than Pruitt to the EPA and has avoided the nearly constant scandals that dogged Pruitt in his final six months in office, but he has still aggressively pursued a deregulatory agenda. 
 
 He has overseen some of the most consequential EPA actions on behalf of Trump, such as rolling out proposals to roll back or repeal limits on carbon dioxide pollution from power plants, car fuel efficiency standards and limits on methane pollution from oil and natural gas drillers. 
 
 “When President Trump called me to ask me to assume the duties of the acting administrator, he asked me to continue to clean up the air, clean up the water and continue deregulation in order to spur economic growth,” Wheeler told reporters in July when announcing a new report on air pollution. 
 
 Wheeler has faced many of the same policy-driven criticisms that Pruitt did from environmental groups, who contend that he is carrying out the agenda of polluting industries like coal and oil at the expense of public health. 
 
 The Sierra Club slammed Wheeler on Friday, saying that he should not be confirmed. 
 
 "Putting a coal lobbyist like Andrew Wheeler in charge of the EPA is like giving a thief the keys to a bank vault," said Michael Brune, the group's executive director. "There shouldn’t be a single day when the Administrator of the EPA schemes with corporate polluters to attack public health, but Wheeler has made it a regular habit because he is unable to give up his corporate polluter ties." 
 
 Trump hinted in October that he could nominate Wheeler for the post, saying at another White House event, “He’s acting, but he’s doing well, right? So maybe he won’t be so acting so long.” 
 
 He also has the support of the head of the committee that would be responsible for his confirmation. 
 
 Sen. John Barrasso John Anthony BarrassoOvernight Energy: Wheeler weathers climate criticism at confirmation hearing | Dems want Interior to stop drilling work during shutdown | 2018 was hottest year for oceans Dems blast EPA nominee at confirmation hearing Dem senator expresses concern over acting EPA chief's 'speedy promotion' MORE (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said in August, at Wheeler’s first hearing since becoming acting EPA chief, that he “would make an excellent administrator,” and encouraged Trump to tap him. 
 
 Wheeler was confirmed as deputy administrator by a vote of 53-45. Only three Democrats voted “yes”: Sens. Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampEPA's Wheeler faces grilling over rule rollbacks 2020 Election: Democrats can’t afford to ignore their Israel problem Hirono will donate salary earned during government shutdown MORE (N.D.), Joe Donnelly Joseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEPA's Wheeler faces grilling over rule rollbacks Some Senate Dems see Ocasio-Cortez as weak spokeswoman for party Senate approves funding bill, preventing partial government shutdown MORE (Ind.) and Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinCentrist efforts to convince Trump to end shutdown falter Bipartisan group of senators will urge Trump to reopen government for 3 weeks Leaders nix recess with no shutdown deal in sight MORE (W.Va.). Donnelly and Heitkamp both lost in last week’s midterm elections.
– President Trump says he will nominate Andrew Wheeler to be the next administrator of the EPA, an agency that Wheeler has led on an interim basis since July, The Hill reports. “He’s done a fantastic job,” Trump said Friday when making the announcement during a White House ceremony honoring Medal of Freedom recipients. Wheeler, who had become the EPA’s deputy administrator in April, took the helm of the agency over the summer after the “controversial and ethically challenged” Scott Pruitt resigned, USA Today reports. Before becoming the permanent EPA administrator, Wheeler will need Senate confirmation (which he had for his previous deputy role at the EPA). “Mr. Wheeler must come before our committee so that members can look at his record as acting administrator objectively to see if any improvements have been made,” Sen. Tom Carper, a Democrat on the Senate Environmental Public Works Committee said in a statement, per The Hill. In nominating Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, Trump would “ensure a continued deregulatory push” at the agency, per the Washington Post. The paper adds that, like Pruitt before him, Wheeler has a “zeal to deregulate.” In July he said that he “will try to work to implement the president’s agenda.” So far, that effort has reportedly included proposals to reduce or repeal limits on CO2 and methane pollution from power plants and oil and gas drillers, and rolling back vehicle fuel efficiency standards. "Putting a coal lobbyist like Andrew Wheeler in charge of the EPA is like giving a thief the keys to a bank vault," Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune tells The Hill. (This EPA change could result in more deaths.)