"EPA: Pruitt's Political Deputies Accumulate Power"

"While U.S. EPA waits on a legion of nominees to emerge from the Trump White House, Administrator Scott Pruitt has sought to fill the void by spreading political deputies across his agency.

The EPA chief has his lieutenants in at least six program offices at the agency. The deputy assistant administrators don't require Senate confirmation — unlike assistant administrators who are the offices' top executives — and can carry enormous influence, considering they've been hired by the administrator and are expected to carry out President Trump's agenda.

In an internal email sent two weeks ago to EPA employees, Chief of Staff Ryan Jackson listed Pruitt's political team, including the No. 2s who are working in various offices across the agency."

Kevin Bogardus reports for Greenwire July 14, 2017.