EPA Director of Water resigns Destructive policies. A top Environmental Protection Agency official who recently stepped down after a 30-year career warned that the Trump administration’s environmental policies will lead to job loss and increased public health and safety risks, The Washington Post reported. Elizabeth “Betsy” Southerland, former director of science and technology in the agency’s Office of Water, said there’s no question that “the administration is seriously weakening EPA’s mission by vigorously pursuing an industry deregulation approach and defunding implementation of environmental programs.” Per the Post, Southerland called policies promoted by President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt “destructive.” Comments welcome.