Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin appoints Trump EPA chief Andrew Wheeler to post

“Last year, I pledged to Virginians that we would remove 25% of the regulatory requirements in the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a written statement. “In the spirit of this objective, we have created the Office of Regulatory Management, led by Andrew Wheeler, which will create much needed transparency and efficiency in Virginia’s regulatory process to ensure that we have a government that works for the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

The announcement drew sharp criticism from General Assembly Democrats, who blocked Youngkin’s efforts to install Wheeler as his secretary of natural and historic resources. Wheeler will not need the legislature’s approval for this post.

Va. Senate panel snubs Trump EPA chief for Youngkin’s Cabinet

Adding to the uproar was an error in Youngkin’s executive order, his 19th since taking office in January. The order initially said changes to Virginia regulations would be posted at townhall.org — a Trump website. It was later corrected to townhall.virginia.gov.

“Youngkin just unilaterally worked around the General Assembly to appoint #AndrewWheeler — Trump’s EPA admin — to reduce regulatory oversight,” Del. Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax) tweeted. “We’ve already seen the damage done by Trump’s cronies at the federal level, the last thing we want is the same for VA.”

Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria), who became the chief target of Youngkin’s ire during Wheeler’s nomination battle as head of the Senate committee that handles nominations, questioned the specific goal the governor has set for regulatory rollback.

“I think it’s arbitrary to claim that we need to cut 25 percent of regulations without claiming which of the regulations that were established to protect the environment or public health in others ways is unnecessary,” Ebbin said.

Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter did not immediately respond when asked how the governor arrived at the 25 percent figure and whether he already has identified the regulations he would like to eliminate.

The General Assembly seldom rejects a governor’s Cabinet pick, and the rest of Youngkin’s choices sailed through a divided Capitol. But Wheeler drew fierce pushback from environmentalists and the state’s elected Democrats, including members of Congress. The pick prompted 150 former EPA employees to write a letter of protest, contending that he had undermined the agency’s mission.

Youngkin and fellow Republicans contended that Wheeler was exceptionally qualified, with a law degree, MBA and government experience at the highest level. Wheeler…