Trump appoints ex-GOP congressman Lee Zeldin as EPA head
TL/DR –
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former New York Representative Lee Zeldin as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zeldin has a history of voting against several EPA initiatives and has a 14% lifetime score from the environmental advocacy group, League of Conservation Voters. In his new role, Zeldin aims to restore US energy dominance, revitalize the auto industry, make the US a global leader in AI, and protect access to clean air and water while also working to roll back certain regulations to boost economic prosperity.
Trump Selects Zeldin as EPA Administrator
Former New York Representative, Lee Zeldin, has accepted President-Elect Donald Trump’s offer to be the administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The announcement was made in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Zeldin expressed his enthusiasm for the role, promising to restore US energy dominance, revitalize the auto industry, and lead globally in AI, all while safeguarding access to clean air and water.
Zeldin, having lost the 2022 New York governor’s race, remained a close associate of Trump, frequently appearing at Mar-a-Lago during his 2024 campaign.
One of Zeldin’s initial tasks will most likely involve initiating processes to overturn several of the Biden EPA’s key climate rules, including regulations on vehicle emissions and rules aimed at reducing pollution from power plants and oil and gas producers.
Zeldin has previously headed the China policy initiative at the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank aiming to advance Trump’s agenda. Here, he focused on national security threats posed by China.
In an interview with Fox News, Zeldin expressed his intent to roll back “left-wing” regulations and unleash economic prosperity through the agency.
Zeldin, during his time as a New York congressman, received the worst score on environmental issues in 2020 from the League of Conservation Voters. He also holds a 14% lifetime score from the national environmental advocacy group, LCV.
Zeldin has consistently voted against green initiatives, including the 2022 climate law and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, both of which included EPA funding for environmental projects.
About $103 billion in funding from Biden’s climate law has been announced as of late October, aimed at a wide range of initiatives including clean energy, preparing coastal communities for rising seas, and reducing pollution from oil and gas operations.
Zeldin stated that while Trump is keen on ensuring access to clean air and water, he wants to use the EPA to pursue “energy dominance.”
Zeldin stated that he believes the EPA can play a pivotal role in boosting the economy by enabling energy dominance, establishing the United States as the global leader in artificial intelligence, and revitalizing the American auto industry.
Zeldin also emphasized his intention to roll back regulations affecting businesses on his first day in office, stating such regulations are causing businesses to struggle and move overseas.
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