President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in his second term. The news was confirmed by Trump in a statement released Monday afternoon.
Zeldin, a Republican who served in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023, is known for his strong legal background and his outspoken support for ‘America First’ policies. Trump praised Zeldin’s commitment to these policies, stating that he will “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
Trump also expressed confidence in Zeldin’s ability to handle complex situations, highlighting his “brilliant” handling of “extremely difficult and complex situations” in the past. He is confident that Zeldin will “quickly prove to be a great contributor!”
Zeldin himself has expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
Zeldin’s appointment has been met with interest from both supporters and critics. Supporters point to his strong legal background and his commitment to ‘America First’ policies as qualifications for the role, while critics worry about his commitment to environmental protection and his history of opposing environmental regulations.
The appointment of Zeldin as EPA Administrator is likely to have significant implications for the agency and for environmental policy in the United States. It remains to be seen how Zeldin will balance his commitment to deregulation with his promise to maintain high environmental standards. His approach to environmental policy will be closely watched by both industry and environmental groups in the coming years.
