About EPA

A Day in the Life of EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy - April 4, 2014: A Typical Day

What’s it like to make some of today’s most important environmental and public health decisions?  Go behind the scenes with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for a view of a typical day serving the American people.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy arrives for work in the morning
7:24 am - EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy arrives for work in the morning with her trusty backpack – full of briefing materials, policy papers and speeches – in tow. (1/12)
7:51 am Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
7:51 am - In her office, McCarthy’s support for her beloved Boston Red Sox is apparent. She recently attended an event at the White House to celebrate the World Series champions. (2/12)
8:07 am Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
8:07 am - McCarthy reviews upcoming remarks with speechwriter Kevin Samy. The papers on her desk cover the broad gamut of public health and environmental issues the agency oversees on a daily basis. (3/12)
8:40 am Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
8:40 am - Each morning McCarthy meets with senior staff in her office to review the issues of the day ahead. Here, she and EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe confer on an upcoming policy announcement. (4/12)
10:44 am Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
10:44 am - McCarthy leads a meeting with senior EPA officials from the Office of Air and Radiation to discuss progress on the proposal to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants, a key pillar in the President’s Climate Action Plan. (5/12)
11:47 am Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
11:47 am - As part of her mission to broaden the conversation about public health and environmental protection, McCarthy has expanded the agency’s Office of Public Engagement.  Here she meets with Rosemary Enobakhare and Amanda Aguirre to discuss ongoing outreach efforts. (6/12)
12:39 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
12:39 pm - As part of an ongoing effort to make progress in every American community, McCarthy meets with agency officials to discuss mitigation and resilience efforts for cities and states to deal with a changing climate. (7/12)
12:57 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
12:57 pm - It’s not all hard work. McCarthy shares a lighter moment during the course of the day. (8/12)
1:04 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
1:04 pm - Off to another meeting. McCarthy is always connected to staff and other Administration officials, with her Blackberry rarely far from reach. (9/12)
1:10 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
1:10 pm - McCarthy enters the West Wing for a meeting with White House officials. Given the focus on climate change, and the key role EPA plays on the issue, McCarthy spends considerable time coordinating with the president’s senior advisors. (10/12)
2:26 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
2:26 pm - McCarthy is known to stroll the halls of EPA during the day and drop in on staff to discuss various policy matters and connect with employees throughout the building. (11/12)
5:58 pm Day in the Life Gina McCarthy
5:58 pm - Although she keeps a small apartment near EPA headquarters, almost every weekend McCarthy travels back to Boston, to her home and her husband. (12/12)

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