Officials close to Whitman and the president-elect confirmed the appointment, according to reports. Bush could make the formal announcement as early as Friday.
See details of how Whitman has stirred
Bush has also tapped Virginia Gov. James Gilmore to head the Republican National Committee, according to senior GOP officials. Gilmore will take over for Jim Nicholson, who is stepping down.
RNC members must approve the appointment as a formality.
Gilmore opposes abortion and supports capital punishment. Under his leadership, Republicans took over the Virginia House and Senate for the first time in modern history.
According to party rules, the GOP chairman is required to serve full time, but sources said Bush had enough votes to waive the rule or could circumvent it another way, allowing Gilmore to serve the final year of his gubernatorial term.
Whitman would have to resign in her final year as New Jersey's governor to take the top job at EPA.
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