Germana Carillo President-elect Donald Trump announces the nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency of a former Republican congressman from New York who is said to be a proud and long-time opponent of climate regulation
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The appointment of Lee Zeldin, a figure known for his polemical stance concerning problems of climate change, to the post of the head of the EPA doesn’t leave much room for doubt: Trump’s second administration is poised to be even more destructive for environmental policy than his first.
With a scant history of environmental policy experience, Zeldin was an early and stalwart ally to former President Donald Trump during his freshman term in Congress. Now, after an unsuccessful 2022 bid for New York governor, he has been placed at the helm of perhaps the country’s most pivotal agency for environmental protection.
Rolling back Biden-era climate policies
One of Zeldin’s first orders of business will probably be dismantling some of the biggest climate regulations instituted during Biden’s EPA. These include vehicle exhaust emissions standards and rules aimed at power plants, oil producers, and gas companies.
In an interview with Fox News, Zeldin said he intends to roll back what he called “leftist regulations” and instead promised to focus on “unleashing economic prosperity” through the agency.
The agenda includes restoring U.S. energy dominance, revitalizing our automotive industry to bring American jobs back, and positioning the United States as a global leader in artificial intelligence. All of this while ensuring access to clean air and water, he posted on X.
A return to Trump-era policies
Trump has already signaled that he intends to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, mirroring actions from his first term. He also hopes to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act, which pledged billions toward clean energy projects designed to slash U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. While in Congress, Zeldin voted with his fellow Republicans in opposition to this historic climate law.
Why Lee Zeldin?
Zeldin holds a similar stance to Trump, who is in denial about climate change. He has referred to it as a “media narrative.” Appointing Zeldin is part of the more significant move Trump is making to remove restrictions he feels are holding back the potential of industries and thereby slowing economic growth.
“We need bold and fair deregulation decisions to unleash the energy of the American entrepreneur,” Trump said, making one thing clear: energy independence, by way of a fossil fuel muscle flex.
These priorities are mirrored in Zeldin’s voting history. He has voted against the protection of the environment, promoted fracking, and the building of new pipelines.
What to expect from the EPA under Zeldin
- Cutting clean energy funding: Zeldin could divert or cut funding to renewable energy programs to support gas and oil industries.
- Rolling back air pollution regulations: He has been critical of Biden-era emission standards and is expected to dismantle regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
- Curbing state autonomy: Progressive states like California that have set stricter environmental standards may be pressured further by the federal government to move toward lenient national regulations.
