Noem Criticizes EPA After Auditors Say It Broke Campaign Law

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem is again criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency, this time after congressional auditors determined the agency broke the law in a social media campaign.

Noem on Tuesday said the EPA "must be held accountable" for the violations in the campaign that intended to generate public support for a controversial rule to protect small streams and wetlands from development.

The Government Accountability Office says the campaign violated restrictions against lobbying and propaganda by federal agencies. The agency blitzed social media urging the public to submit comments on the draft rule.

Noem says the EPA resorted to what auditors described as "covert propaganda" when it could not find enough supporters for the rule, which she labeled as possibly "the largest federal land grab in our lifetimes."

The EPA says the rule will safeguard drinking water for 117 million Americans.

Source: Rep. Kristi Noem Criticizes EPA After Auditors Say It Broke Campaign Law