White House Ignored EPA Pollutants Email

The White House didn’t like the findings in a Supreme Court-mandated report on pollutants from the EPA—so it simply refused to open the email, the New York Times reports. Instead, the administration has successfully pressured the agency into releasing a watered-down, recommendation-free report. Among the omitted sections: analysis showing that tougher automobile regulation could produce $500 billion to $2 trillion in economic benefits.

“It’s the EPA that determines what analysis it wants to make available,” said one White House spokesman, denying any meddling. But senior EPA officials say the White House explicitly told them the document wouldn’t be opened. As it sat unread in Bush’s inbox, Congress passed a law mandating a 35mpg standard by 2020—the report recommended a stricter 37.7mpg by 2018. (More Bush administration stories.)