Husband of former Trump family personal aide joins EPA: report

The husband of a former household staffer to President Trump and first lady Melania Trump was recently appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New York office, according to a new report.

Steve Kopec, who formerly ran a home improvement contracting business called “Steve’s Tools in Motion,” began work in December as a special assistant in the EPA office, Politico reported Friday.

Kopec’s wife, Dagmara Kopec, previously worked for the Trumps when they lived in New York, according to the report.

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Kopec, who reportedly commutes “multiple hours” from his New Jersey home to the office, does not appear to have a background in government or science.

An EPA memo obtained Politico describes Kopec as “an experienced manager with skills in team building, management and organization.”

“Steve comes to us from private industry, where he fashioned his career around customer service and organizational efficiencies,” the memo reads.

EPA officials told Politico that Kopec does not hold a senior position, nor does he write policy or serve in a scientific role. Rather, he “performs administrative and support services” for a regional administrator, according to one official.

An EPA spokeswoman described Kopic as a “hard-working, dedicated employee” in a statement to Politico, adding, “we appreciate his service, in supporting environmental protection efforts.”

Neither of the Kopecs responded to Politico’s requests for comment.

Ethics experts have raised concerns about Trump appointing people with personal connections to positions within his administration.

Trump previously appointed his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner to unpaid advisory positions in the White House.