EPA Chief’s $43,000 Phone Booth Broke Law, Congressional Auditors Say

"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.

SEE ALSO:

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

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

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