Michigan governor shakes up state government to focus on drinking water

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a reorganization of state government she said is largely aimed at ensuring safe drinking water for Michigan residents and fighting climate change. Whitmer announced the restructuring of the Department of Environmental Quality as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. She also announced the creation of the following new offices within the restructured department: Climate and Energy, Clean Water Public Advocate and Environmental Justice Public Advocate.Michigan was rocked by the Flint drinking water crisis in 2015 and more recently by statewide threats to drinking water safety from PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances used in firefighting foam and other substances.Now, "we need to be laser-focused on cleaning up water in our state," Whitmer said.Though mostly a shifting around of existing resources — officials said no net gain in state employees will immediately result from the shake-up — Whitmer's reorganization, which is effective April 7 and could face rejection from the GOP-controlled Legislature, does create new offices with new responsibilities.