On June 4, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm Patrick McDonnell as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

McDonnell has led DEP since he was nominated as Acting Secretary on May 20, 2016 and was later confirmed by the Senate during the first Wolf Administration. Prior to his appointment in 2016, McDonnell served as Director of DEP’s Policy Office.

Prior to returning to DEP, Mr. McDonnell was executive policy manager for former Commissioner Pamela A. Witmer of the Public Utility Commission, focusing on electric, natural gas and water issues as well as cybersecurity and the impact of environmental regulation on energy markets.

Previously, McDonnell spent 13 years with DEP in a variety of roles. As deputy secretary for administration, he managed the budget, human resources, information technology and oversaw the facilities management functions of the agency. He also previously served as policy director and as an assistant to the special deputy secretary.

With this confirmation, 3 key environment-related cabinet members have been reconfirmed, including Cindy Adams Dunn as Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Russell Redding as Secretary of Agriculture.

[Posted: June 5, 2019]

6/10/2019