CNN: EPA Expanding Security Detail for Pruitt as Threats Increase

The Environmental Protection Agency is taking unprecedented protection measures for administrator Scott Pruitt amid increasing threats, CNN reports.

The annual salaries alone of the agents who will protect Pruitt round-the-clock will hit $2 million, according to CNN, reporting that no past EPA administrator has had 24/7 protection.

"We have at least four times — four to five times the number of threats against Mr. Pruitt than" Pruitt's predecessor, assistant inspector general Patrick Sullivan told CNN. "The EPA is a lightning rod. We get threats from both sides of the spectrum."

The added costs come amid President Donald Trump's plan to slash the EPA budget by 30 percent as well as an investigation into Pruitt eschewing commercial travel for use of private government aircraft.

Further, it was reported last month that the EPA spent an additional $40,000 on enhanced security measures and a soundproof booth for Pruitt's office at EPA headquarters.

The enhancements have drawn the ire of Democratic lawmakers.

"This culture, which is reflected in travel and lifestyle choices from the President on down, seems to embolden senior, politically appointed officials of the Trump administration to undertake lavish spending of taxpayer dollars for their sole and personal benefit, and not for the benefit of Americans paying the tab," Reps. Peter DeFazio and Grace Napolitano wrote to the EPA inspector general earlier this month.

While attorney general of Oklahoma, Pruitt increased the office's expenses by 40 percent and added 60 employees.

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