The Senate has confirmed former New York congressman Lee Zeldin as the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, signaling a shift in federal environmental policy as the Trump administration moves to scale back regulations and shrink the agency's workforce.
Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Zeldin, a Trump ally with limited environmental experience, was confirmed 56-42 with support from three Democrats. His appointment is in keeping with the administration’s broader effort to weaken regulations seen as burdensome to industry.
- The EPA has already begun restructuring under Trump, including offering “deferred resignation” packages to employees and firing scientific advisors from key regulatory committees.
- Trump has also moved to freeze federal funding under Biden’s climate law, stalling billions in clean-energy grants, while industry groups praise Zeldin’s confirmation as a win for deregulation.
Key quote:
“I have nothing against Lee Zeldin personally, but the likelihood of him standing against that fossil fuel bulldozer that is coming at him is essentially zero.”
— U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI
Why this matters:
While industry groups celebrate their new ally at the helm, environmental advocates warn that this could mean more rollbacks on air and water protections — setting the stage for years of legal battles.
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