US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the departure of his environment chief Scott Pruitt who faced scandals over his spending and conduct in office.
His deputy Andrew Wheeler will take over as acting head of the agency, Trump said.
Scott Pruitt was accused of a litany of corrupt practices, any one of which would have ended the career of an ordinary politician.
Meanwhile, in a letter to US President Donald Trump, Pruitt blamed "unrelenting attacks" on himself and his family.
Trump tweeted that Pruitt had done "an outstanding job, and I will always be thankful to him".
US Lawmakers probed Pruitt for renting a room in a high-end townhouse co-owned by the wife of energy industry lobbyist Steven Hart for $50 a night, an arrangement that has drawn fire from ethics experts.
Media reports say the payment is less than one-third the price of similar properties.
Pruitt was also under fire for frequent first-class air travel and for purchasing costly items for his office, including a soundproof telephone booth.
Despite the scandals, Trump has been approving of Pruitt's efforts to reduce regulations that the administration says curb business growth.
Activists have argued those cuts have endangered the environment.
