Earth to Pruitt: Just go

In a competitive field of contestants, no single Cabinet member so fully, so unapologetically inhabits the swamp President Trump vowed to drain than Environmental Protection Administrator Scott Pruitt — which is about as far as his concern for wetlands goes. Oh sure, Pruitt’s not the only one to gorge on travel privileges, insisting on first-class flights, if you please. But he brews a uniquely toxic stew of personal entanglements with industries he regulates, extreme pro-polluter policies that mock the EPA’s mission, and — neatly encapsulated in a $43,000 soundproof privacy booth — contempt for the public he serves.

A more functional White House would have sent this Swamp Thing packing long ago. Trump instead reportedly called Pruitt Monday to coo sweet encouragement in the face of calls for his resignation.

Those came because of reports that, even as he rented a Capitol Hill condo for the low-low price of $50 a night, whenever he pleased, Pruitt moved to approve one project pushed by an energy lobbyist married to the condo’s part-owner. And jetted to Morocco to sell the kingdom on liquefied natural gas that another of the lobbyist’s clients exports exclusively.

And after the White House turned down requests for pay raises for two subordinates Pruitt brought with him from Oklahoma, he snuck them in through the back door through emergency hiring powers meant to fast-track water cleanups.

Last but far from least, Pruitt’s fealty to the fuel industry now prompts the administrator to launch an ill-advised reversal of Obama administration fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards on cars and light trucks that push average fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 — removing billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a big win against climate change.

California is already blazing to the higher auto standards, with New York and a dozen other states following suit. Pruitt should get the hell out of the way — and buy a one-way ticket back to Oklahoma. For old time’s sake, we’ll even pay for first class.