STATEMENT: EPA attempts to End FOIA As We Know It

New EPA FOIA Rule is Blatant Political Interference in Open-Records Laws
Contact

Adam Beitman, adam.beitman@sierraclub.org or 202-670-5585

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A new proposed EPA FOIA rule, first reported in The Hill, will give untrained political appointees at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to make decisions about public information requests. Ironically, Andrew Wheeler and Donald Trump’s EPA is proposing to enact the new rule that could dramatically alter transparency laws under the radar without any opportunity for public process or comment.

The previous EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, resigned in disgrace after documents obtained by the Sierra Club via FOIA showed -- among other things -- Pruitt had a lobbyist help plan foreign trips, tried to get his wife a job with a fast food chain, tried to purchase a used mattress from a Trump hotel, and regularly met and did favors for corporate polluters.

In Response, Pat Gallagher, Director of the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program, released the following statement:

“Trump and Wheeler are trying to end transparency and FOIA as we know it in a blatant attempt to hide their backdoor dealings with polluters. Make no mistake -- this is happening precisely because transparency laws have revealed numerous embarrassing and even career ending scandals for Scott Pruitt and others. Rather than change their behavior, Wheeler and his political appointees would rather change the law. We will not let them. 

“The FOIA is a tool the public can use to demand accountability and transparency, so of course the Trump Administration wants to end it. Successful FOIA litigation has exposed a literally unimaginable amount of corruption at the Pruitt-Wheeler EPA that has been totally unprecedented in scope. That corruption may never have come to light with this change. 

“The only good news about this rule is that it is obviously and in-your-face illegal, and we will fight it tooth and nail.”

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.