President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced his choice of former Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, a Cabinet-level position overseeing 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 deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.
Zeldin, a New York Republican who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2022, is Trump’s second Empire State nominee to serve in his administration. Over the weekend, he announced Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as 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 US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so 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 toughen clean air and water standards at the EPA. He has a 14% lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters, a leading environmental group.