Christine Todd Whitman "runs" the EPA as the top administrative manager. She reports to George W. Bush.
It's like asking ... who "runs" GE? Who "runs" Dell Computers. Hundreds of thousands of GE and Dell employees accross the world do. The Chairman of the Board and the Directors represent the ownership and manage the CEO, the CEO is the executive officer who manages the operations of the entity. The head of GE Capital "runs" the financial arm, the head of GE Engines manages that division, the President of NBC runs that group, and the the head of Light Bulbs runs the light bulb operations. They report to a Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Financial Officer "runs" the financial and accounting groups. The Chief Administrative Officer runs the human resource, investor relations, regulatory and legal staff. The COO, CFO, CAO and International guy report directly to Jack Welch or his successor. He reports to the Board. The Board serve at the pleasure of the investors.
If Michael Dell "runs" Dell Computers, or Bill Gates "runs" Microsoft, then George W. Bush "runs" the EPA. That's not how complex managed organizations work though, eh?
But for purposes of FR debate, let's just say it's all George W. Bush's personal fault. K.I.S.S.
I sure hope Bush had the foresight to get Whitman's letter of resignation before she was appointed to the EPA.