Brick building in Washington, DC with a sign saying Environmental Protection Agency.

Credit: Kristina Blokhin/Big Stock Photo

Trump nominates lawyer with industry ties for a top EPA role

David Fotouhi, President Trump’s pick for US Environmental Protection Agency deputy administrator, has represented companies accused of environmental pollution and worked to weaken climate and other regulations during his previous EPA tenure.

Sharon Lerner reports for ProPublica.

In short:

David Fotouhi, a lawyer who challenged the EPA's asbestos ban and defended firms accused of PFAS pollution, has been nominated as the agency's deputy administrator.
Environmentalists question Fotouhi's ability to fairly regulate due to his past advocacy for industry-friendly policies, including weakened water and coal ash standards.
Fotouhi’s nomination reflects a broader trend of Trump-era appointees with strong ties to polluting industries.

Key quote:

“Here’s a guy who wrote a very biased and one-sided attack on the EPA rule on asbestos. I would not want him to come anywhere near EPA decision-making on the asbestos rule.”

— Robert Sussman, attorney and former EPA deputy administrator

Why this matters:

Fotouhi’s track record, particularly during his tenure at the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration, has led to questions about the enforcement of regulations aimed at safeguarding public health and the environment. Concerns focus on his handling of key issues like asbestos, PFAS chemicals and water quality, all of which carry significant implications for both immediate and long-term health outcomes. Communities nationwide, especially those already burdened by environmental injustices, are watching closely to see whether protections will falter under policies that Fotouhi could influence.

www.propublica.org

Trump nominates lawyer with industry ties for a top EPA role

Flood mapping reforms stall as Trump disbands FEMA advisory group

Plastic treaty talks collapse over production limits and chemical controls

Environmental groups sue Trump administration over secretive climate science report

Melting Alaskan glacier sends floodwaters toward Juneau as city tests emergency wall

Climate shifts force travelers to rethink the best times to travel abroad

Truck makers challenge California’s authority to enforce stricter pollution rules

How rising temperatures are putting children and pregnant women at risk

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.