(CN) - House Democrats on Thursday asked for a federal investigation into Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s spending $25,000 on a soundproof booth for his office.
The request, signed by Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and made to Arthur Elkins, the EPA's inspector general, comes as scrutiny grows over the spending of several Trump administration officials.
The EPA this summer signed a contract worth nearly $25,000 to buy and have installed a soundproof booth in Pruitt’s office.
The agency told the Washington Post Pruitt needs the secure booth, which it described as a “sensitive compartmented information facility,” to discuss sensitive matters. It also said a number of other cabinet members have similar soundproof facilities.
But Pallone maintained in his letter that the "reported installation of this equipment is unprecedented and may represent yet another example of bureaucratic malfeasance by the Trump administration.”
This is the just latest inquiry into Pruitt’s expenditures since he assumed his post at the EPA. Over the last month, Pruitt’s frequent trips home to Oklahoma aboard costly military aircraft are also under review by the EPA’s inspector general.
A representative of the EPA did not immediately respond to a request comment.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Six EPA Heads Dating Back to Reagan Advocate Sweeping Reset August 12, 2020 -
-
Suit Over EPA Advisory Board Shuffle Gets 2nd Wind April 21, 2020 -
Lawyer Tapped to Oversee EPA Ethics Gets Hero's Welcome October 30, 2019