Former Trump Environmental Protection Agency boss Andrew Wheeler will be joining the Youngkin administration after all, even though Democratic lawmakers blocked his confirmation as secretary of natural and historic resources last month. Wheeler will serve as a senior advisor to the governor, a Youngkin spokesperson confirmed.

Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, oversaw a massive rollback of environmental protections while running the EPA under President Trump. His nomination in Virginia outraged Democrats, environmentalists, and former EPA employees, who said his work in the Trump administration disqualified him for the job.

Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter declined to offer any specifics about what Wheeler’s duties will include in the senior advisor role.

It’s unusual for lawmakers in Virginia to block gubernatorial cabinet appointees — in fact it’s only happened once before, in 2006, when Gov. Tim Kaine’s choice for secretary of the commonwealth was voted down by Republicans. In 2010, Gov. Bob McDonnell decided to withdraw his pick for secretary of commerce, Bob Sledd, in the face of opposition from Democrats. In that case, McDonnell made Sledd a senior economic advisor instead — setting a precedent that Youngkin appears to be following.

Working at the EPA, Wheeler weakened vehicle emissions standards and clean power regulations, and rolled back clean water protections. He also downplayed the seriousness of climate change, saying that any danger from global warming was “50 to 75 years out,” and less urgent than other priorities.

More that 150 former EPA employees wrote to Virginia lawmakers, urging them not to confirm Wheeler. “As you consider Mr. Wheeler’s record, there should be little doubt that he will bring his extremist approach and polluter favoritism to Virginia,” they wrote. “His playbook will be the same, putting at greater risk the health and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth and the environment in which they reside.”

Wheeler served as acting secretary of natural resources while debate of his nomination played out. Under state law, he could not continue to serve after his nomination was officially rejected — meaning, once the General Assembly session wrapped up on Saturday, March 12. Travis Voyles, former deputy secretary, will now take over the acting secretary role.