Washington, DC – The National Wildlife Federation welcomed the news today that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt prudently chose to step down from his position and allow the White House and U.S. Senate to find new leadership for this critical agency.

“Scott Pruitt made the right decision today,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has a sacred responsibility to protect the health of all Americans. Fulfilling this solemn duty demands leadership that upholds our nation’s bedrock environmental laws, makes decisions based upon sound science, and respects the Agency’s 14,000 hardworking public servants. We look forward to working collaboratively with Acting Administrator Wheeler to address the challenges facing our communities’ public health, the natural resources, and wildlife.”

The National Wildlife Federation called on Pruitt to resign in April — only the third time in the organization’s 82-year history it had called on a Cabinet-level official to step down.