The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog faulted the agency Tuesday for failing to justify the high level of security provided to former administrator Scott Pruitt.
In a highly anticipated report, the EPA’s inspector general said Pruitt’s unprecedented use of a around-the-clock security detail cost the agency $3.5 million over an 11-month period, an increase of 110 percent compared to $1.6 million in security costs for the prior 11 months for Obama-era EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
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The inspector general said EPA did not properly document justification for that increased spending because it failed to conduct an analysis of the threats Pruitt claimed he faced. Instead, the EPA decided to give Pruitt around-the-clock security protection before he even arrived at the agency.
“The increased costs associated with this undocumented decision represents an inefficient use of agency resources,” the report said.
In addition, EPA’s internal watchdog said that some security personnel worked overtime without proper authorization, resulting in improper payments of $106,507 between January 2016 and March 2017.
Pruitt resigned in July after facing a dozen federal investigations over his spending, first-class travel, and use of security.
The EPA’s inspector general in April began investigating Pruitt for his use of the security detail on personal trips to Disneyland, the Rose Bowl, and college basketball games.
The EPA spent nearly $3.5 million on Pruitt’s security detail during his first year on the job, including travel and overtime pay.
He was the first EPA administrator with such a high level of security. The EPA justified the constant security presence by saying Pruitt has faced unprecedented threats from people who opposed his deregulatory agenda.
EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler quickly ended the use of constant security upon replacing Pruitt, the inspector general said.
