Democrats intend to grill Trump officials on environment

Three likely incoming Democratic chairs of House committees overseeing environmental issues vowed to scrutinize the Trump administration's actions on climate change and bring before them Cabinet and other officials who they think have escaped adequate oversight under their Republican colleagues. After eight years out of power in the House, Democratic Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Raúl Grijalva of Arizona and Frank Pallone of New Jersey are expected to lead the committees on Science, Space, and Technology; Natural Resource; and Energy and Commerce, respectively, after serving as the panels' ranking members. In a slate of interviews, they outlined an expansive agenda to put a hot spotlight on the Trump administration's rollback of President Barack Obama's climate agenda and to delve deep into alleged misconduct of officials at the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior Department and the Housing and Urban Development Department. At the top of that list is Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Grijalva wants Zinke to testify before his committee about discussions surrounding a deal in Whitefish, Montana, between the Zinkes' family foundation and Halliburton chairman David Lesar along with other developers. Democrats asked Interior's acting inspector general to launch a probe of the matter in late June after Politico first reported on the deal. The watchdog office last month referred the matter to the Justice Department...MORE