The Senate will soon vote on President Donald Trump’s nominees for leadership roles within certain U.S. federal agencies, including two for the Environmental Protection Agency and one for the National Labor Relations Board.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune invoked cloture on the long list of Trump’s nominees on Thursday to end debate and proceed to a vote.
No date has been set yet for when next week the Senate will conduct its final vote.
If the EPA nominees are confirmed, they will lead departments overseeing environmental regulations involving manufacturing under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The NLRB nominee would oversee cases involving unfair labor practices as well as remediation negotiations between companies and labor unions.
Doug Troutman, nominee to lead the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
The Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention implements various regulations, including TSCA, to protect the environment and public from toxic substances, according to the EPA’s website.
Troutman has been serving in a senior advisory role at the agency since September, according to his LinkedIn. Before joining the EPA, Troutman had served in various leadership roles at the American Cleaning Institute trade group since December 2007. Between December 2024 and August, Troutman served as interim co-CEO of the ACI.
If confirmed, he would succeed Michal Freedhoff, who left EPA in January. Troutman also would be overseeing a backlog of chemicals to review. Chemical manufacturers have complained about the EPA’s chemical review process, saying it’s taking longer than the 90 days the agency said it would. However, the agency has proposed rules to modify TSCA-adjacent requirements, such as reporting of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, or PFAS.
Moreover, Troutman would have fewer scientists on staff. The EPA dismantled its Office of Research and Development in July, laying off a number of scientists and moving others to different divisions within the agency.
Jeffrey Hall, nominee to be assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance addresses pollution problems affecting nearby communities by “vigorously enforcing” environmental laws through civil and criminal enforcement, according to EPA’s website.
If confirmed, Hall will succeed David Uhlmann, who resigned last December, per his LinkedIn.
Hall has been serving as an advisor to the EPA since February, according to his LinkedIn. Before joining the EPA, he was a partner at the Burke Law Group from May 2023 to February. Before that, he held various positions within the Department of Justice.
Scott Mayer, nominee to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board
Mayer’s nomination faced a few hurdles in recent months.
Mayer, who currently serves as Boeing’s chief labor counsel per his LinkedIn, had been on the hot seat at his confirmation hearing as the workers’ strike took place at the company’s fighter jet and weapons facilities in St. Louis.
The strike began Aug. 4 and over time, negotiations between the union and Boeing grew tense. The strike lasted 101 days, ending Nov. 13.
Mayer’s nomination was initially set to be voted out of the senate committee in October onto the floor, but was removed at the last minute.
On Dec. 3, the committee advanced Mayer, and now the Boeing chief labor counsel awaits the Senate’s final approval next week.
If Mayer is confirmed, he will resign from his chief labor counsel role at Boeing, according to his Aug. 28 letter to the NLRB’s Designated Agency Ethics Official. Mayer said he will also forfeit any unvested restricted stock units and divest all Boeing stock. He also vowed to not participate in situations involving Boeing until he has unloaded his shares or obtains a written waiver.
