Senate confirms Zeldin to be EPA administrator

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to take the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

He was confirmed in a 56-42 vote. Democrats Mark Kelly (Ariz.), John Fetterman (Pa.) and Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) voted with Republicans in favor of his confirmation.

Zeldin was a surprise pick for the EPA administrator role because during his congressional tenure, he was more well known for working on international affairs.

But he has been a major defender of President Trump, including during the president’s first impeachment in 2019.

During his confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed Zeldin on climate change — given Trump’s frequent dismissal of the phenomenon as a hoax. They questioned him about opinion pieces he was paid to author, including those that reportedly criticized a variety of climate actions.

Despite those tensions, Zeldin was not expected to face as tough a confirmation battle as other Trump picks, such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was confirmed by the Senate on Friday, and Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who faced tough questioning from Democrats on Wednesday.

During his confirmation hearing, Zeldin stated that he believes climate change is real, but he defended Trump’s comments calling it a hoax.

“As far as President Trump goes, the context that I have heard him speak about it was with a criticism of policies that have been enacted because of climate change,” Zeldin said earlier this month. “I think that he’s concerned about the economic cost of some policies.”

In a post on X, Zeldin thanked Trump and the senators who voted for him.

“CONFIRMED! Thank You to the 56 Senators for your vote and confidence,” he wrote. “Grateful to President @realDonaldTrump for having the faith in me to be part of his Cabinet as @EPA Administrator.”

“Make America Great Again!” he added.

Zeldin's Democratic opponents cited climate change in their opposition to his nomination.

"We need an ... EPA administrator who will take climate change seriously, treat the science honestly, and stand up where necessary to the political pressure that will be coming from the White House ... and from the huge fossil fuel forces that propelled him into office," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) during a speech on the Senate floor.

"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," Whitehouse added.

Republicans cheered Zeldin’s confirmation, saying that he will be able to implement Trump’s deregulatory agenda from the EPA’s top perch.

“Lee is primed and ready to slash the mountains of backwards regulations at the EPA to restore primacy of states and common sense,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in a written statement . “I look forward to working with him as he brings some sanity back to EPA and makes the bureaucracy work for the people it purportedly serves.”

— Updated at 5:16 p.m. EST

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