Photomontage: Duke University Nicholas School

This week we want to recognize former EPA Administrators Christine Todd Whitman and Bill Reilly for speaking out about the Trump Administration’s dereliction of duty when it comes to protecting the public from environmental harms.  They are members of a group called Republicans and Independents for Biden and are vocally supporting the former Vice President because of their devotion to the rule of law, respect for science, and desire to see action on climate change.  Lisa Friedman of The New York Times got the scoop and interviewed them this week in the NYT’s Climate Forward column.  As she put it, the Trump campaign “derided” them as “has-been politicians,” however, “the former E.P.A. chiefs brushed off the criticism.”

Their support for Biden comes in stark contrast to the self-congratulatory remarks that current Administrator Andrew Wheeler delivered last Friday in California to “celebrate” the 50th anniversary of the EPA. Not to mention President Trump’s ridiculous claims about his environmental “accomplishments” this week. Wheeler took a swipe at the former Administrators for elevating “single-issue advocacy” around climate change, which he said comes at the expense of U.S. interests, taking aim at the Paris Accord as well.  Wheeler also ridiculously claimed his efforts to make the agency’s science more transparent would benefit the public (it does not) and that by rolling back regulations, the EPA would help minority communities (it does not).    So we salute these two former Administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency who put the country, and the public’s health and safety, over party.