There are many important roles in the White House that are in place to protect our environment. Some of these roles include the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of the Interior. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Pruitt, Rick Perry, and Ryan Zinke for these three positions. The past professional experience of these nominees will provide insight on how well our environment will be taken care of these next four years.
The Director of the Environmental Protection Agency is the head of the United States federal government's Environmental Protection Agency. This person is responsible for enforcing the nation's Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. The mission of EPA is “to protect human health and the environment- air, water, and land” (United States Environmental Protection Agency).
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt was the attorney general for the state of Oklahoma. Many people pose concern to Trump’s decision, as Pruitt’s previous actions seem to contradict the ideas of the Environment Protection Agency. He has showed conflicting viewpoints about this position, as he previously opposed public health and environmental protection. For example, Pruitt has been involved in multiple lawsuits alongside some of the nation’s biggest polluters. By taking their side, he was ultimately trying to prevent the EPA from doing their job under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. Now, Pruitt’s attitudes and beliefs have seemed to switch, as he approaches this position.
The Secretary of Energy focuses on the energy security of the United States by “promoting scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission and ensuring the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex” (U.S. Department of Energy). More specific responsibilities include the nation's nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production. The mission of the Energy Department is “to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions” (U.S. Department of Energy).
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, to lead the United States Department of Energy. He served fourteen years as governor of Texas, which makes him the state’s longest-serving governor. Texas is the nation’s leading generator of wind power, which he promoted while serving his state for many years. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, “Perry created an environment conducive to economic investment through robust infrastructure and competitive power markets that allowed new technologies to enter; the Texas model under Governor Perry’s leadership enabled the growth of low-cost wind energy that made the grid more diverse and reliable while saving consumers money” (AAAS). This experience and insight to energy power and technology will help him in his new position as the Secretary of Energy.
The Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources. This position is also responsible for “the administration of programs relating to Native American, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and territorial affairs” (U.S. Department of Interior). The Department is directed by the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is a member of the Cabinet of the President. The mission of the Department of the Interior is “to protect America's great outdoors and power our future” (U.S. Department of Interior).
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Ryan Zinke as his Secretary of Interior. Zinke does not have much political experience, but he does have one thing that Trump is counting on- a national security platform. Zinke has spent most of his life in the military, and is a former Navy SEAL. This past professional experience will impact how well he can carry out his duties. President- elect Donald Trump believes he will uphold this position by defending and keeping the nation’s public lands in federal hands, as he has done his whole career in the military.
In conclusion, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for the Director of the EPA, Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Interior will greatly impact our environment. According to past professional experiences, Rick Perry and Ryan Zinke seem fit for the positions they are nominated for. Scott Pruitt’s past professional experiences are questionable and conflicting with the position he is nominated for.