Wheeler backs Trump's hold on diversity training

摘要

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler today defended postponing the agency's upcoming race-related training sessions and touted the Trump administration's work on "elevating" environmental justice. EPA last week halted a class on diversity after the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on Sept. 4 directing all agencies to root out education on the structural and systematic qualities of racism in the United States (Greenwire, Sept. 16). "I think that's very appropriate, I think that's a misuse of America's taxpayer dollars to promote training that marginalizes groups of people and is very controversial," Wheeler said on a call with reporters today. "I don't think we should be using taxpayer dollars for that." Wheeler said the training was suspended so EPA could ensure the materials are appropriate and such reviews will continue on an ongoing basis. The administration's move has drawn criticism as the nation faces widespread social justice protests following the killings of Black Americans. Among the critics, some have said that quashing sensitivity training could deter business with the federal government and retention of people of color in the nation's agencies and laboratories (Greenwire, Sept. 23).