Advocacy Groups Wants Whitman's Resignation

April 5, 2001

Friends of the Earth has called on Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Whitman to resign. The group cited what they termed "policy reversals on the regulation of carbon dioxide, arsenic in drinking water, and the U.S. decision to unilaterally cancel the Kyoto climate change agreement" in calling for her resignation, action no one expects. However, it is the first time a Bush appointee has been asked to resign; it probably won't be the last.

FoE said Whitman's credibility had been compromised "beyond repair" both in the United States and abroad and urged her to resign her post "as a matter of conscience." FoE President Brent Blackwelder said, "First the Bush Administration destroyed her credibility on climate change. Then, in an astounding blow to public health, Administrator Whitman sent standards for arsenic in drinking water back to 1942. The best thing she can do for the health and safety of America is to step down and join our fight to halt President Bush's war on our environment."