Consultant who called Trump an ‘environmental hero’ to get environmental job in new administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced more hires Friday for his new administration, including tapping his business’ longtime environmental consultant for an adviser role.
Ed Russo, who served as an environmental consultant to the Trump Organization and in 2016 wrote the book “Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero,” will lead Trump’s Environmental Advisory Task Force.
Trump said in a statement that Russo will advise on “initiatives to create great jobs and protect our natural resources, by following my policy of CLEAN AIR and CLEAN WATER.”
“Together, we will achieve American Energy DOMINANCE, rebuild our Economy, and DRILL, BABY, DRILL,” Trump wrote.
While Russo served as CEO of WaterGen USA, the company received an EPA research contract in 2018, during Trump’s first term. Russo is now listed as CEO of the North Miami Beach-based RussKap Water.
Trump on Friday also announced that Bill Briggs will serve as deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration — an agency that provides loans after disasters, including the California wildfires.
Briggs, who worked in the agency’s Office of Capital Access during Trump’s first term, would work under former Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who Trump has nominated to serve as administrator of the SBA and who is awaiting confirmation hearings.