Andrew R. Wheeler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrew R. Wheeler
Official portrait, 2018
12th Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
In office January 15, 2022 – March 15, 2022
Governor	Glenn Youngkin
Preceded by	Ann Jennings
Succeeded by	Travis Voyles
15th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
In office July 9, 2018 – January 20, 2021 Acting: July 9, 2018 – February 28, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Henry Darwin (acting)
Preceded by	Scott Pruitt
Succeeded by	Michael S. Regan
Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
In office April 20, 2018 – February 28, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Robert Perciasepe
Succeeded by	Henry Darwin (acting)
Personal details
Born	(1964-12-23) December 23, 1964 (age 60) Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Case Western Reserve University (BA) Washington University in St. Louis (JD) George Mason University (MBA)

Andrew R. Wheeler (born December 23, 1964) is an American lawyer. He is best known for leading the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2019 to 2021. The EPA is a government agency that works to protect human health and the environment.

Before becoming the main leader, he was the deputy (assistant) leader from April to July 2018. He then served as the acting leader from July 2018 to February 2019. After his time at the EPA, he became a senior advisor to Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin in March 2022.

Wheeler has also worked as a lawyer for a company that represents coal businesses. He also worked to change environmental rules made by a previous government. He was a chief advisor to a U.S. senator who questioned climate change. Wheeler himself has expressed doubts about strict limits on greenhouse gases and the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

In October 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Wheeler to be the Deputy Administrator of the EPA. He was confirmed for this role in April 2018. When the previous leader, Scott Pruitt, resigned in July 2018, Wheeler became the acting leader. President Trump later nominated him to be the permanent leader. The Senate confirmed him on February 28, 2019, with a vote of 52 to 47.

Early Life and Education

Andrew Wheeler was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on December 23, 1964. He was an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts.

He went to Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1987, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, studying English and biology. He then earned a law degree (Juris Doctor) from the Washington University School of Law in 1990. In 1998, he completed a Master of Business Administration degree at George Mason University.

Career Journey

Andrew Wheeler has held several important roles throughout his career, focusing on environmental policy and law.

Working at the EPA

Wheeler's first job was at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1991 to 1995. He worked as a special assistant in a division that focused on managing information about toxic chemicals. He also worked on preventing pollution and ensuring people had the "right to know" about certain environmental information. He received awards from the EPA for his work in 1993 and 1994.

Serving in the Senate

From 1995 to 2009, Wheeler worked for the U.S. Senate. He was a chief legal advisor for Senator Jim Inhofe. He also worked on the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, Wetlands, and Nuclear Safety. During this time, he generally aimed to reduce government rules on industries that produce greenhouse gases. Senator Inhofe was known for questioning the idea of climate change.

During his time in the Senate, Wheeler was recognized as a top congressional staff leader.

Work as a Lobbyist

From 2009 to 2017, Wheeler worked as a lobbyist for a law firm called Faegre Baker Daniels. A lobbyist tries to influence government decisions on behalf of a group or company. He represented coal producer Murray Energy, a company owned by Robert E. Murray. This company was his highest-paying client.

Wheeler worked to oppose environmental rules made by the Obama administration that aimed to control climate change. He also tried to convince the government to support coal power plants financially.

Becoming EPA Deputy Administrator

In October 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Wheeler to be the Deputy Administrator of the EPA. The Senate confirmed him for this role on April 12, 2018.

After he was sworn in, Wheeler met with some of his former lobbying clients. An EPA ethics official stated these meetings did not break the rules, as Wheeler had not worked for them in the two years before joining the EPA.

Leading the EPA as Acting Administrator

On July 5, 2018, Scott Pruitt resigned as the head of the EPA. Andrew Wheeler then became the acting leader of the agency.

In October 2018, a newspaper article criticized Wheeler's idea to reduce the importance of public health benefits when discussing air pollution. This was different from a 2011 finding that saw health benefits as important when controlling pollution. On November 16, 2018, Wheeler was nominated to become the permanent Administrator of the EPA.

In 2018, a report about the impact of climate change in the United States was released. The EPA, under Wheeler, questioned the report's findings. The EPA claimed that the previous administration had pushed the report's authors to focus on the worst possible outcomes. However, fact-checkers found no evidence for these claims.

When asked in November 2018 to name three EPA policies that had made the air cleaner, Wheeler found it difficult to answer. Two of his three answers were about undoing policies from the previous administration.

Serving as EPA Administrator

Wheeler speaks in September 2019.

In February 2019, the Senate confirmed Wheeler as the head of the EPA. The vote was 52 to 47.

In 2019, Wheeler supported a proposed EPA rule. This rule would stop the EPA from using studies if their raw data (the original information) was not made public. Wheeler said this was about "transparency." However, many scientists disagreed. They said it would limit the research the EPA could use, because many studies cannot share personal or private information. This rule could prevent the EPA from using important studies that support rules, including those about air pollution. Many scientific and medical groups, and editors of major scientific journals, spoke out against this proposal.

In September 2019, Wheeler signed a directive to reduce animal testing. Instead, the EPA would focus on new alternative test methods. The goal was to reduce mammal studies by 30% by 2025 and stop all funding for them by 2035, with some exceptions.

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the EPA announced it would generally not fine companies for breaking environmental rules. This applied if the EPA agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the violation. Wheeler said the EPA understood that protecting people from COVID-19 might make it hard for companies to follow all rules.

In April 2020, the EPA decided not to make environmental standards stricter for fine soot pollution (PM 2.5). A scientific report from the EPA had estimated that current standards were linked to 45,000 deaths each year. Stricter standards could save 12,150 lives. However, various industries asked the government not to tighten the rule. The new rule stated that Wheeler placed "little weight" on estimates of deaths caused by fine soot pollution.

Also in April 2020, the EPA changed rules about mercury regulation in the United States. This change greatly reduced the health benefits considered when making future rules. Wheeler called this an "honest accounting method."

During his time as Administrator, Wheeler did not put in place any new rules that reduced air pollution or carbon emissions.

Work in Virginia

In 2022, Governor Glenn Youngkin nominated Wheeler to be the Virginia secretary of natural resources. However, the Virginia Senate did not confirm his nomination. Wheeler took office immediately after being nominated, but he stepped down on March 15, 2022. He then became a senior advisor to Governor Youngkin. He was the first person nominated to a Virginia Cabinet position to be denied confirmation since 2006.

On July 1, 2022, Governor Youngkin also chose Wheeler to lead a new office called the Office of Regulatory Management. One of this office's goals is to reduce the state's regulations by 25%.

Wheeler left his positions in the Youngkin administration on March 29, 2024.

Environmental Views

Andrew Wheeler has written articles about his views on the environment. In 2010, he questioned the scientific work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He felt their positions were based more on political ideas than on scientific facts.

When asked if he agreed with the scientific consensus on climate change during his confirmation hearing, Wheeler said, "I believe that man has an impact on the climate but what's not completely understood is what the impact is."

In March 2019, Wheeler stated he did not believe climate change was an "existential threat" (a threat to human existence). This comment came after a report from the IPCC suggested that if greenhouse gas emissions were not cut in half by 2030, there could be very serious consequences.

Wheeler is also the Chairman Emeritus (retired chairman) of the National Energy Resources Organization. He is also the Vice President of the Washington Coal Club.

Images for kids

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  Official portrait, 2018

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  Wheeler speaks in September 2019.

See also

In Spanish: Andrew R. Wheeler para niños