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Article snippet: A Trump administration official originally requested and justified a round-the-clock security detail for the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on fears that MORE’s expected policy changes would create significant public backlash. Internal EPA emails obtained by The Hill show that Don Benton, who led the EPA’s “beachhead” team of initial political appointees after Trump’s inauguration, requested 24/7 security for “at least” Administrator MORE’s first week of work, fearing Trump’s initial actions related to the EPA were “likely to stir up a hornet's nest.” The email provides a window into how Pruitt came to be the first EPA head in history with a full-time security detail. Early Monday, the EPA’s Inspector General confirmed in a letter that Pruitt had requested constant security before he even came to the agency, and he had the guards on his first day, despite recent statements Pruitt made that his expensive security was deemed necessary due to threats he received while working there. Weeks after Pruitt was sworn in, Trump issued an executive order formally asking him to consider repealing the Obama administration's Clean Water Rule, which redefined the EPA's authority over small waterways. Pruitt has indeed since proposed repealing it. Later, in March, Trump signed a wide-ranging executive order on energy and environmental regulations. Its instructions included asking the EPA to reconsider the Clean Power Plan that limited carbon dioxide emi... Link to the full article to read more