Zeldin confirmed to lead EPA, setting the stage for regulatory rollbacks
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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