"Mission Impossible: Replacing Scott Pruitt"

"Senate Republicans fear they wouldn’t be able to confirm another nominee if Trump’s beleaguered EPA chief is ousted."

"There’s one big reason Senate Republicans are standing staunchly with Scott Pruitt: Confirming a replacement might be impossible.

Even as the embattled EPA administrator faced another day of difficult headlines on Monday, there is no push from the Senate GOP to shove Pruitt out. Instead, Republicans are gently rapping him for his ethical transgressions and praising his deregulatory regime.

There’s no question that GOP senators are growing tired of defending Pruitt. But turning on him would likely backfire, as the shrunken Republican majority would struggle to confirm any EPA administrator, let alone another one as conservative and driven to overturn former President Barack Obama’s environmental rules and regulations."

Burgess Everett and Anthony Adragna report for Politico April 9, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"The Next Head of Trump’s EPA" (New Republic)

"Some Republicans Are Rallying Around Pruitt" (The Hill)

"Schumer to Trump: Get Rid of Pruitt" (The Hill)

"Republicans Stand By Pruitt As Ethics Probes Expand" (AP)

"EPA: Manchin To Back Wheeler For Deputy" (Greenwire)

"If Scott Pruitt Gets Fired From the EPA, This Coal Lobbyist Will Take His Place" (Mother Jones)