NEW YORK, July 29 - Senior White House officials were reportedly preparing a nomination of Justin Schwab to head the Environmental Protection Agency's influential Office of Air and Radiation after Aaron Szabo signaled he would resign, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. That anticipated personnel change has been put on hold after Szabo's planned transition to a law firm did not materialize at the last minute.
Sources said Szabo, who leads the EPA office that oversees major Clean Air Act programs and the Renewable Fuel Standard, had taken part in a series of farewell gatherings with staff before reversing course and remaining in his role. Szabo had earlier intended to leave the agency on July 17 to take a job in the private sector, the sources said.
In response to inquiries about Szabo's status, the EPA said the official was asked to stay "a little longer to help further advance the President's agenda and Power the Great American Comeback." The agency did not specify how long Szabo would remain in the position.
Justin Schwab returned to the EPA this month as a senior adviser, having come from the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Schwab previously served as deputy general counsel at the EPA during President Donald Trump's first term. To become the permanent head of the Office of Air and Radiation, Schwab would need to be formally nominated by the White House and then confirmed by the Senate.
Observers note the confirmation path is uncertain because of the breadth and authority of the office. The post oversees significant Clean Air Act programs and the Renewable Fuel Standard - a policy arena that has historically drawn competing pressures from lawmakers and stakeholders in farm states, biofuel producers, oil-producing states and refiners.
A White House official, when asked about the prospect of a Schwab nomination, said:
"Any and all personnel announcements will be made directly by the Administration."
Requests for comment to Schwab and Szabo were not immediately returned. An EPA spokesperson commented in an email directed to Schwab's agency address:
"We are excited to have Justin return to EPA and look forward to having him on the team as the agency continues to advance the President's agenda under Administrator Zeldin's leadership."
Both Szabo and Schwab have ties to CGCN Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. Szabo was named a partner at CGCN in 2018; the firm has represented clients including the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, a trade group that has opposed stricter limits on particulate pollution. Schwab identifies himself as the founder of CGCN Law, described as an entity within CGCN providing specialized legal services, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The sequence of events leaves the leadership of the EPA's air office in a temporary holding pattern. While an internal adviser was primed for elevation, the stalled private-sector move by the current officeholder forestalled any immediate nomination. The lack of a timeline from the EPA on Szabo's continued tenure means the administration has not announced a firm plan to put forward a successor.
Because any permanent appointment would require Senate approval, uncertainty about the pace and outcome of a confirmation process will persist so long as the nomination is not formally submitted. The Air and Radiation office's jurisdiction over regulatory programs that affect agriculture, biofuels and refining ensures that a confirmed appointment would carry significant stakes for multiple economic sectors.