President-elect Donald Trump has turned to a veteran of his first term to helm the second-in-command post at EPA.
Trump has chosen David Fotouhi to be the agency’s deputy administrator. Fotouhi is a familiar face for EPA, having climbed the ladder in its legal program to finish as acting general counsel in Trump’s first term.
EPA’s No. 2 spot has taken on added importance as former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), Trump’s choice for administrator, has not served at the agency before.
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Experienced hands will have to help guide a difficult deregulatory campaign that could be tripped up on Capitol Hill and in the courts. In addition, the president-elect has made it clear he wants to downsize agencies and trimming the payroll at EPA will be tricky.
