Trump taps Zeldin to lead EPA with plans to ease climate restrictions
President-elect Trump has chosen Lee Zeldin, a former New York congressman with a conservative track record on environmental issues, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency as Trump moves to dismantle climate regulations.
Coral Davenport and Lisa Friedman report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Zeldin’s appointment aligns with Trump’s intention to roll back key Biden-era climate rules, particularly those aimed at curbing fossil fuel emissions and boosting electric vehicles.
- Trump’s support for Zeldin signals a move toward deregulatory actions within the EPA, potentially including cuts to programs that serve polluted communities.
- Environmental advocates express concern, citing Zeldin's mixed record, with some environmental votes but a predominantly pro-fossil fuel stance.
Key quote:
“We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs and make the US the global leader of AI...while protecting access to clean air and water.”
— Lee Zeldin
Why this matters:
With Trump setting the stage for a deregulation blitz, Zeldin’s EPA could pivot hard, sparking a fight over the future of U.S. climate policy and who, ultimately, benefits. Read more: We mobilized to defend the EPA in Trump's first term. This time the stakes are even higher.
