SOUNDPROOF BOOTH VIOLATED SPENDING LAWS

The Environmental Protection Agency violated federal spending laws when purchasing a $43,000 soundproof privacy booth for Administrator Scott Pruitt to make private phone calls in his office, an internal government watchdog says.

The Government Accountability Office issued its findings Monday in a letter to Senate Democrats.

The purchase of the booth violated federal law prohibiting agencies from spending more than $5,000 for improvements to the offices of presidential appointees without informing Congress. It is among several security precautions taken by Pruitt that are now under scrutiny, like his use frequent use of first-class flights to avoid unpleasant interactions.