Ex-EPA official fined £18,000 for undisclosed job talks during tenure
A former long-serving EPA official has agreed to pay nearly £18,000 to settle conflict-of-interest allegations. John Reeder, who worked at the agency for over 30 years, failed to disclose job negotiations while still in his role. The settlement was announced this week by the EPA’s watchdog and the Justice Department.
Reeder held several high-profile positions during his three decades at the Environmental Protection Agency. He directed the Superfund site cleanup programme and worked in water policy and congressional affairs. His career spanned administrations from both major political parties.
The investigation found that Reeder violated federal ethics rules by not immediately reporting discussions about a future teaching job. The EPA’s Office of Inspector General and the Justice Department confirmed the settlement on Monday. Under the agreement, he will pay £21,750 (approximately £17,800) to resolve the case.
Meanwhile, the EPA has seen a change in its investigative leadership. Judge Jeffrey S. Harris has taken over as the active EPA investigative judge, replacing Nicole Murley. Murley, who served as acting Inspector General, emphasised the agency’s commitment to integrity and accountability in such matters.
The settlement closes the case against Reeder, who left the EPA after a lengthy career. His payment reflects the financial penalty for breaching ethics requirements. The agency has reaffirmed its stance on enforcing conflict-of-interest rules for current and former employees.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
