White House Aides Wouldn't All Mind if Pruitt Bombs Before Congress

The EPA chief is on thin ice. If it were to break, the thinking goes, it might give the president the push he needs to finally move on.

LACHLAN MARKAY
ASAWIN SUEBSAENG
ANDREW DESIDERIO

04.25.18 9:30 PM ET

When Scott Pruitt heads to Capitol Hill on Thursday, his future in the Trump administration hangs in the balance. The embattled Environmental Protection Agency administrator has few defenders left in the nation’s capital. And even inside the White House, there is a growing sense—indeed, desire—that the administration could potentially rid itself of its Pruitt problem were he simply to fall on his face before House lawmakers.

Two White House officials told The Daily Beast that they hope Pruitt does “crash and burn”—as one put it—so as to possibly give the president the pretense to finally fire him. That sentiment isn’t shared universally. But few, if any, inside the White House are actively rooting for Pruitt to do well when he comes under questioning.

Those feelings underscore the wave of frustration that has long been building between White House staff and Pruitt’s inner circle. Several top-ranking figures in the Trump orbit have wanted Pruitt ousted for weeks due to the mounting scandals and terrible press coverage, and wouldn’t mind yet another televised example showing why it’s time for the administrator to go.

It’s a feeling not lost on the EPA higher-ups, either. Inside that agency, senior officials are perfectly aware that a slip-up at the hearings can and will be used to attempt to erode Pruitt’s standing inside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. But that standing, in their estimation, has always been reliant on the president’s fondness for Pruitt and his performance at the EPA. When the administrator sits down before Congress on Thursday, the target audience will consist of just one person, the president, and their mission will be singularly focused: keep Trump happy.

To that end, Pruitt has declined the help of the White House, but is calling members of Congress to discuss his testimony, solicit advice, and try to get a sense of what questions might be thrown his way, The Daily Beast has learned.

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