![Senate approves Zeldin for role at Environmental Protection Agency as Trump pledges to reduce climate regulations. Senate approves Zeldin for role at Environmental Protection Agency as Trump pledges to reduce climate regulations.](https://uslive-mediap.uslive.com/2025/01/3e2d0590-873007d642df4bb2a72cb3dd6f6bd52d-trump_cabinet_zeldin_49849.jpg)
WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the Senate, controlled by the Republican party, confirmed Lee Zeldin to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This crucial appointment aims to assist President Donald Trump in his commitment to reduce significant environmental regulations, particularly those that target climate change and promote electric vehicle usage.
The Senate vote concluded with a tally of 56-42 in favor of Zeldin. Notably, he received support from three Democratic senators — Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly from Arizona, and John Fetterman from Pennsylvania — alongside the unanimous backing of all 53 Republican senators.
Zeldin, a former congressman from New York and a staunch ally of Trump, previously served on the former president’s defense team during the first impeachment trial. He also opposed the certification of Trump’s 2020 election defeat to President Joe Biden.
During his confirmation hearings, the 44-year-old Zeldin expressed a sense of obligation to serve as a responsible steward of the environment and emphasized support for the agency’s career staff dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. However, he was reticent about committing to specific policies, preferring to keep options open as he prepares to take the helm at the EPA. When questioned by Republican Senator Pete Ricketts from Nebraska about potentially rolling back electric vehicle promotion programs—initiatives that Trump has frequently criticized—Zeldin responded vaguely, admitting he was aware of Republican concerns.
Trump’s administration previously sought to dismantle over 100 environmental protections during his first four years in office and is expected to pursue similar actions again, denouncing what he inaccurately refers to as a “mandate” for electric vehicles and branding the Democrats’ climate initiatives as a “green new scam.” Trump has publicly dismissed climate change as a hoax and expressed intentions to reverse significant climate measures enacted under Biden, which include regulations on vehicle emissions and limitations on pollution from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants. Efforts to remove career staff from the EPA and close offices assisting marginalized communities affected by pollution have already commenced under Trump’s administration.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island criticized Zeldin’s nomination, asserting he is unsuitable for the position. He emphasized the need for an EPA administrator who takes climate change seriously, acknowledges scientific evidence, and can withstand political pressures from both the White House and powerful fossil fuel interests. Whitehouse contended that as president, Trump is heavily influenced by the fossil fuel industry, which diminishes Zeldin’s potential effectiveness in the role.
Republican Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming provided a contrasting perspective, asserting that Zeldin would restore the EPA’s core mission of safeguarding air, water, and land without imposing burdensome regulations on the economy. Barrasso praised Zeldin as a dedicated public servant with a keen legal mind and extensive military service.
Zeldin is expected to continue Trump’s agenda to eliminate what he deems excessive regulations at the EPA, cut bureaucracy, and inspire a wave of innovation. Barrasso remarked that over recent years, under the Biden administration, the EPA had engaged in overly stringent regulations that escalated costs and imposed excessive restrictions on American families and businesses. He anticipates that Zeldin will correct this trajectory by revisiting Biden-era mandates concerning emissions and electric vehicles.
The League of Conservation Voters, a national environmental advocacy organization, has criticized Zeldin’s past environmental record, awarding him a score of 14%. As a congressman, he voted against the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act designed to advance renewable energy initiatives and tackle climate change.
Nonetheless, Zeldin did support legislation aimed at regulating harmful substances known as PFAS in drinking water, as well as the Great American Outdoors Act, which aimed to address maintenance issues within national parks using revenue from oil and gas royalties. He has also endorsed local conservation efforts in Long Island.
At the hearing on January 16, Zeldin expressed a desire to collaborate with the private sector to foster sensible regulatory practices that would support American innovation. He asserted that under his stewardship, the EPA would emphasize compliance and the rule of law, while encouraging collaboration with stakeholders to protect the environment.