EPA chief’s bug hunt, locks cost $9,000

WASHINGTON — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency used public money to have his office swept for hidden listening devices and bought sophisticated biometric locks for additional security.

The spending items, totaling nearly $9,000, are among a string of increased countersurveillance precautions taken by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who also has around-theclock protection by an armed security team.

The EPA’s Office of Inspector General already is investigating Pruitt’s $25,000 purchase of a custom-made soundproof privacy booth for his office to deter eavesdropping on his phone calls.

An accounting of Pruitt’s spending for the bug sweep and pricey locks was provided to The Associated Press by an EPA employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing concerns of retaliation.

EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox defended the spending, saying Pruitt “has received an unprecedented amount of threats against him,” adding that “there is nothing nefarious” about the security decisions.

The EPA’s headquarters in Washington is a secure building, with armed guards posted at the entrances and metal detectors and X-ray machines for scanning visitors and their bags.

And, while EPA employees rarely deal with government secrets, the agency does occasionally receive, handle and store classified material because of its homeland security, emergency response and continuity missions.