We admit that we are conflicted about Andrew Wheeler, the acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On one hand he appears to be following President Trump’s lead and is working hard to roll back, defang, and otherwise file down some of the very sharp regulatory teeth added to the agency during the disastrous Obama years. Wheeler says he’s in the job to help President Trump and further Trump’s agenda at the agency. We believe him. On the other hand, Wheeler has worked in Washington pretty much his whole professional life, in and out of government, and is attempting to make peace with leftist Democrats who populate the rank and file workers at the EPA. That is, he’s attempting to placate swamp dwellers–instead of draining the stagnant swamp (i.e. firing them). That’s a mistake. A big mistake. Because those swamp dwellers will continue to undercut Wheeler at every turn. But Trump likes Wheeler and the job he’s done since the unceremonious exit of Scott Pruitt, hounded out by political enemies (like the Washington Post and Athens News). On Friday, Trump said he plans to nominate Wheeler to permanently take the position. Yes, we’re conflicted.
