White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Trump has ultimate authority over whether to fire Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, but no decision had been made.
“No one other than the president has the authority to hire and fire members of his Cabinet,” Sanders said when asked if a decision has been made on whether Pruitt will be let go after a flurry of scandals involving the EPA administrator.
“It’s a decision he’ll make,” Sanders said in the wake of news reports that White House chief of staff John Kelly has advised the president to fire Pruitt.
Trump believes Pruitt has done a “good” job as head of the EPA, Sanders said. “Right now, I have no personnel announcements,” she added.
“The president feels that the administrator has done a good job at EPA,” she said. “He’s restored it back to its original purpose.”
Sanders was unwilling to discuss specific issues as the White House investigates the allegations facing Pruitt over travel expenses, his condo rental, big pay raises for two aides, and security spending.
“I’m not going to walk through hypotheticals until we have time to go through a full review. That’s what we’re doing right now,” she said.
