Gina McCarthy Confirmed As New EPA Administrator

Gina McCarthy was confirmed as the United States’ new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator by the Senate on Thursday. The confirmation was one of seven promised by Republicans in exchange for Democrats’ agreement to shelve their efforts to change Senate rules.

The chamber already approved two other nominations earlier this week and confirmed Thomas Perez as the new labor secretary on Thursday as well.

McCarthy fielded a large number of questions during her confirmation hearings and also came under attack from several Republicans before her confirmation.

She also headed the EPA’s air and radiation office during President Obama’s first term. During that time, Gina McCarthy was able to play a large role in the government’s efforts to speak on global warming and curbing traditional pollutants.

While environmentalists consider McCarthy a key ally, her critics in the Senate used her nomination as EPA administrator as a platform for their issues with President Obama’s environmental agenda.

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced he chose not to confirm McCarthy, though he explained, “My fight is not with her.” He added:

“My fight is with President Obama and the EPA, the regulatory agency that has consistently placed unreasonable regulations and unobtainable standards on energy production, rather than focus on efforts to develop a domestic all-of-the-above energy strategy for the future.”

While Manchin was the only Democrat to vote against Gina McCarthy, six Republicans voted in her favor. McCarthy was nominated by Obama on March 4, the same day the president nominated Ernist Moniz as the next energy secretary. Moniz was confirmed unanimously in May.

Along with serving in the EPA during President Obama’s first term, McCarthy has also served in the administrations of Republican governors in Massachusetts and Connecticut. She will be responsible for overseeing the effort to develop regulations designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.

Before Gina McCarthy’s confirmation, EPA deputy administrator Bob Perciasepe was serving as the agency’s acting administrator.