Apr 6, 2018

Report: Pruitt cost taxpayers $3 million in security detail

Scott Pruitt. Photo: Pete Marovich / Getty Images

The Associated Press reports that the Environmental Protection Agency spent around $3 million in taxpayer money on Scott Pruitt's "20-member full-time security detail."

Why it matters: Pruitt has been under fire for several scandals in recent weeks, and this adds fuel to the fire. Per the AP, Pruitt's security detail is "three times the size of his predecessor's," and resulted in some agents being taken "away from field work." Axios' Jonathan Swan and Ben Geman reported on Thursday that President Trump is "uneasy" about the situation Pruitt is in, while others are calling for his removal.

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Kim Hart
10 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Replacing the nursing home

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Nursing homes have been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, prompting more urgent discussions about alternative housing situations for elderly Americans.

Why it matters: Deaths in nursing homes and residential care facilities account for 45% of COVID-19 related deaths, per the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity — but there are few other viable housing options for seniors.

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Caitlin Owens
19 mins ago - Health

How Joe Biden would tackle the coronavirus

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

If Joe Biden wins in November, his coronavirus response would feature a no-expenses-spared federal approach to mitigating the virus and a beefed-up safety net for those suffering its economic consequences.

Why it matters: It’s nearly inevitable that the U.S. will still be dealing with the pandemic come January 2021, meaning voters in America will choose between two very different options for dealing with it.

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Andrew Witherspoon, Caitlin Owens
50 mins ago - Health

Coronavirus cases flat or growing in 48 states

Data: The COVID Tracking Project, state health departments; Map: Andrew Witherspoon, Sara Wise, Naema Ahmed, Danielle Alberti/Axios

The number of coronavirus cases increased in the vast majority of states over the last week, and decreased in only two states plus the District of Columbia.

Why it matters: This is a grim reminder that no part of the United States is safe from the virus. If states fail to contain their outbreaks, they could soon face exponential spread and overwhelmed health systems.

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