On the topic of EPA regulation, the head of the US EPA, Scott Pruitt, has resigned, citing unrelenting personal attacks as his reason for leaving. Mr Pruitt has been the subject of a string of questions regarding his spending of public money and other abuses of office which has added to the controversy about the direction he gave to the EPA. The resignation does not come as a surprise, especially after the recent appointment of Andrew Wheeler, a former coal-industry lobbyist, as his deputy, which was seen as a pre-emptive move to line up a replacement for Mr Pruitt. Mr Wheeler will indeed take over as the acting head of the EPA, and it can be expected that he will take the role on the permanent basis. President Donald Trump has thanked Mr Pruitt for “an outstanding job”.