Scott Pruitt has been confirmed by the Senate as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a 52-46 vote. Pruitt is the former Oklahoma Attorney General.
BREAKING: Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt confirmed by Senate to serve as EPA administrator.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 17, 2017
The vote was mostly along party lines, with the exception of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who voted against Pruitt's confirmation, and Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) broke with the Democrats and voted for him. Sen. John MCCain (R-AZ) skipped the vote.
The Washington Post's announcement of Pruitt's confirmation raised eyebrows and drew accusations of bias.
Senate confirms climate-change skeptic Scott Pruitt to lead EPA, an agency he sued as Oklahoma attorney general https://t.co/tf8hIwjX6r
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 17, 2017