How does changing the purview of the EPA say they "hate" it? Seems like few argue that it has no utility, and many of the complaints are legitimate, particularly complaints about ludicrous misapplication of WOTUS to small agricultural ditches and artificial pools.

I might have somewhat agreed with your assessment 10 years ago, but now?

I'd say that the EPA is doing roughly the right things right now, and they've been doing some groundbreaking stuff lately in collaboration with NASA. It's not like they've been shut down. The CAFE regulation schedules are being reviewed, might be a good opportunity for somebody to improve the model for them to benefit good actors in the broad public and in industry, while it's up for grabs; even if in the short run the targets are less aggressive.

Obviously the President has said some broad, sweeping things about the EPA, but in practice has not done anything near what he said he was interested in. I think at one point he literally said he'd abolish the whole agency, but that was before he'd been nominated, and obviously no such attempt has been made. At the end of the day, if it doesn't get in the way of the populist policies, it seems like the President and his administration are not interested in gutting the EPA; but if you push the EPA into the line of fire, sure, they'll take some hits.