Who is Andrew Wheeler? Youngkin’s Choice for Secretary of Natural Resources and his Environmental Record
Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has begun to name Cabinet members. You’ve probably heard a lot about Gov-elect Youngkin’s most recent appointment for the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources position, Andrew Wheeler, the former Trump Environmental Protection Agency chief. So who is Andrew Wheeler?
Wheeler is a former coal and chemical industry lobbyist, and is well-known for significantly rolling back or slowing down environmental protections relating to climate change, water, air, and industrial toxins in his time at the EPA. For those less familiar with Wheeler, here are the top three things to know about the nominated Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources:
Top 3 Things to Know about Wheeler
1) Working Background
Before leading EPA under former President Trump, Wheeler was a lobbyist for fossil fuel interests with Faegre Baker Daniels. One of his biggest clients was Murray Energy, a coal company that paid millions in fines and penalties for contaminating waterways with coal slurry and discharge during the time Wheeler was its lobbyist. Simultaneously, Wheeler also served as the Vice President of the Washington Coal Club, a national coal industry interest group.
In his private capacity, he recently testified against a proposed 5-cent tax on disposal of plastic bags in Fairfax County, a policy the Virginia Conservation Network has been advocating for with our Partners.
2) Record at the EPA
What is Andrew Wheeler’s record while at the EPA? We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of his actions and decisions while there:
- Replaced the Clean Power Plan, President Obama’s signature plan to reduce fossil fuel emissions, with a weaker rule that underestimated public health impacts and would likely increase air pollution;
- Gutted core protections of the Clean Water Act by redefining which waterways were protected under federal law, eliminating protection for 18% of streams and 51% of freshwater wetlands nationwide.
- Rolled back the Mercury and Air Toxics standards, despite scientists’ warnings that mercury harms children’s health and bi-partisan support in Congress;
- Eliminated the EPA’s Office of the Science Advisor position, which gave scientific counsel on health and environmental standards to the EPA;
- Weakened requirements and extended cleanup deadlines for coal ash ponds in favor of industry, despite the human health risk of cancer, neurological disease, and cardiovascular disease linked to leaking coal ponds contaminating communities’ drinking water;
- Ruled the amount of dangerous contaminants, PFAS (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances), allowed in our water to be at a level 7–10x higher than the level deemed safe by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry;
- Froze fuel efficiency standards for cars;
- Delayed a formaldehyde report, which concluded that the chemical causes leukemia, nose cancer, and throat cancer, in favor of industry interest;
- Weakened methane rules meant to curb waste and prevent hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gas from leaking into the atmosphere;
- Disbanded the 20- person Particle Matter Review Panel, a group tasked with determining what levels of air pollutants are safe to breathe;
- Silenced climate science on the agency website, which scrubbed all references of human-caused climate change.
- Sought to slash the Chesapeake Bay Program’s budget by 90%, gutting federal support for the Bay Cleanup effort.
3) Stance on Climate Change
Wheeler is a climate change skeptic. In his confirmation hearing for the EPA, he stated “I believe that man has an impact on the climate, but what’s not completely understood is what the impact is.”
He has said that CO2 is not a “real pollutant” and supported President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord.
VCN Partner Resources about Andrew Wheeler
On January 14th, the Virginia Conservation Network sent a letter publicly calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to withdraw his nomination of former EPA Chief, Andrew Wheeler, for the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources role. The letter states that Wheeler’s record, statements, work experience as a coal industry lobbyist, and public positions render him unable to carry out the duty to protect “the atmosphere, lands, and waters from pollution, impairment or destruction, for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth” as the Secretary is tasked per the Virginia Constitution. See our full press release here.
Since Governor Youngkin has not withdrawn his nomination, the Virginia Conservation Network is calling on the General Assembly to vote against the nomination. Tell your legislators to oppose the nomination through the action alert below:
Please see our Partners’ statements below regarding Wheeler’s appointment.
Last updated Tuesday, January 24th at 10:00 AM.
Michael Town
Executive Director of Virginia League of Conservation Voters
In response to the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections vote to remove Andrew Wheeler as a cabinet appointment, Michael Town issued the following statement: “Andrew Wheeler is unfit to lead Virginia’s environmental agencies. Today, Senators in the Privileges and Elections Committee made the right call by removing him from consideration. We hope the Youngkin Administration can find a replacement Secretary who actually has a demonstrable record of caring about environmental protection, not working to undermine safeguards that protect clean air, clean water, and our health.”
Sarah Francisco
Virginia Director of SELC
“This nomination is extremely disappointing. As a former head of EPA in the Trump Administration and former coal industry lobbyist, Mr. Wheeler has a record of weakening fundamental safeguards for clean water and healthy air and opposing common sense efforts to tackle climate change. We are hoping to work with the incoming Youngkin Administration towards clean water, clean air, and a thriving, healthy future for all Virginia’s communities – goals the majority of Virginians share. But the track record of this nominee is at odds with these priorities and sends a troubling signal. We will stand firmly for maintaining the fundamental protections for our environment and health that benefit all Virginians.”
Peggy Sanner
Virginia Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
“Based on strong and wise leadership Virginia has recently achieved important environmental successes, including participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the launch of a new coastal resiliency master plan, and programs to enhance flooding resiliency. Notably, with unprecedentedly strong revenues, the Commonwealth finally has an historic opportunity to fully fund key programs to achieve its long-standing goal of restoring the Chesapeake Bay. We call on our next Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, working with Governor-Elect Youngkin and experienced legislators, to seize this extraordinary opportunity to fully fund water quality programs for agriculture and stormwater and ensure Virginia meets its pollution reduction commitments under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint by 2025 while preparing communities for threats from climate change.”
Kate West
Director of the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter
“The incoming administration has an opportunity to signal who it will prioritize over the next four years — people or polluters. A Wheeler nomination is proof that Youngkin is willing to sell out our communities and our clean air and water for corporate profit. Virginians can’t afford for public health to take a back seat to the interests of corporate polluters. We’ve come too far on climate action to allow a corrupt Trump crony and former coal lobbyist to be at the helm on our natural resources…read more.”
Mothers Out Front
“Mothers Out Front Virginia stands in strong opposition to the appointment by Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin of Andrew Wheeler as Virginia Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. At Mothers Out Front VA, we are committed to continuing the fight against the expansion of extractive fossil fuel infrastructure including dirty fracked gas pipelines like the Mountain Valley Pipeline. We feel that the appointment of Wheeler, whose credentials include a former attorney and lobbyist for the coal industry and a multitude of harmful Trump-era rollbacks while serving as US EPA Administrator, will not only prevent Virginia from taking the dire and bold action needed to combat the climate crisis, but will also undo the progress we have made in recent years to protect our air, water and climate health…. Virginia’s families and communities deserve to be protected and deserve a better appointment to such a crucial position.”
James River Association
“Governor-Elect Youngkin campaigned on a commitment to cleaning up the James River and ensuring that Virginia’s waterways support local economies and are safe for families to enjoy. As his selection to lead the Office of Natural and Historic Resources, it will be Mr. Wheeler’s responsibility to deliver on that campaign promise, and continue Virginia’s long standing track record of bipartisan support for healthy waterways and a restored Chesapeake Bay.”
Nancy Stoner
President of Potomac Riverkeeper Network
“After years of bipartisan progress in Virginia to protect the state’s natural resources, Wheeler’s nomination is a huge step backward. His track record speaks for itself, a veritable laundry list of attacks on our natural resources that demonstrate his allegiance to polluting industries at the expense of the public. Virginians deserve an environmental leader who will look to the future while building on past successes to protect clean water, address environmental injustice, and make the transition to clean renewable energy….”
Kim Jemaine
Virginia Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund
“Anyone with his track record is simply not the right fit for Virginia. During his extensive career as a henchman for the coal industry and the Trump administration, Wheeler has made it clear that he is willing to risk the health and safety of Virginians in order to serve the interests of bad actors. We should take his record at face value.
The climate crisis is real and threatens Virginians from the Eastern Shore to Roanoke. Over the next four years, sea levels will continue to rise, temperatures will continue to increase, and natural disasters will threaten communities at a greater frequency. Our only option for a path forward is continued action to rapidly reduce emissions and preserve our environment. Andrew Wheeler is not up to the task….”
Robin Broder
Deputy Director, Waterkeepers Chesapeake
“The selection of Andrew Wheeler as Secretary of Natural Resources is an insult to Virginia’s families who want and deserve a healthy future for their children. As EPA administrator, he rolled back clean water and clean air protections, ignored and sidelined science, and recommended dangerous standards for toxic chemicals. Virginia has made significant progress in the past few years, but much still remains to be done. Wheeler’s appointment represents a huge step backwards when Virginia must move forward on its commitments to reduce pollution by 2025 under the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan. Youngkin claimed that he supports funding agricultural best management practices, addressing polluted stormwater issues, and advancing coastal resiliency. We are ready to help advance these critical goals. However, his threat to pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the nomination of Wheeler are clearly at odds with these goals and the protection of our health and environment… read more.”
Tom Cormons
Executive Director, Appalachian Voices
“Based on his egregious record as EPA administrator, Andrew Wheeler is unfit to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources. The person selected for this position must have a demonstrated commitment to conserving our precious natural heritage, reducing toxic and climate-warming pollutants, and promoting environmental justice.” Read more.
Mandy Warner
Virginia Director, Environmental Defense Fund Action
Governor-elect Youngkin’s nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources is both disappointing and concerning…. His nomination to this position now is particularly concerning for Virginia.
As EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler systematically ignored science, attacked the foundation of long-standing environmental protections, weakened or eliminated meaningful limits on climate pollution and undermined overwhelmingly-supported mercury standards that protect children and save thousands of lives every year. Climate change is impacting Virginians now, not in 50 to 75 years, as Mr. Wheeler contended as Administrator of the EPA, with communities across the commonwealth experiencing increasingly intense and damaging storms, floods and extreme heat events. Mr. Wheeler’s track record while at the helm of the EPA stands in stark contrast to what Virginians want….
Virginia needs a Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources who is guided by science, respects our environmental laws and values public health to move Virginia forward. EDF Action stands ready to work with the incoming Youngkin Administration to protect clean water and air, advance flood resilience across the commonwealth and build a thriving, equitable future for all of Virginia’s communities. Read more.