President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced his choice of former Rep. Lee Zeldin to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet-level position that oversees enforcement of pollution control standards.
“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies,” Trump said in a statement. “He will ensure fair and swift deregulation decisions that will be made in a way that will unleash the power of American corporations while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.
Zeldin, a New York Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, is Trump’s second Empire State candidate in his administration. Last weekend, he announced that Rep. Elise Stefanik (R.N.Y.) was his choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin wrote in a social media post on Monday.
“We will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the world leader in AI. We will do this while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.
During his time in the House, Zeldin voted against legislation that would limit fossil fuel emissions and tighten clean air and water standards at the EPA. He has a 14% lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters, a leading environmental group.
