President-elect Donald Trump has taken a significant step toward reversing key elements of the Biden administration’s climate policies by selecting former New York GOP Representative Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as its administrator, according to The New York Post.
Zeldin previously served as a U.S. Representative for New York’s 1st congressional district and gave New York Gov. Kathy Hochul a run for her money in 2022 as the GOP nominee.
With years of political experience, he is known for his conservative positions on various issues, and he has a military background, having served in the United States Army.
“I am deeply honored to have been asked by President Trump to serve in his Cabinet. As EPA Administrator, we will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, make the United States the global leader of Artificial Intelligence advancement, and slash the red tape holding back American workers from upward economic mobility,” Zeldin said in a statement.
“We will accomplish all this while conserving our environment, protecting access to clean air and water, and keeping the American people healthy. I look forward to contributing to President Trump’s agenda to build a more prosperous future for our nation,” he concluded.
Trump also responded after naming Zeldin.
“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. 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,” he said in a statement.
The administrator leads the EPA in carrying out the president’s policies regarding standards for air and water quality, regulating chemicals, managing waste, and addressing climate change issues.
According to six sources who spoke with The New York Times, Trump’s transition team is shaping his energy and environmental agenda with the assistance of two experienced former cabinet members and fossil fuel lobbyists. They aim to implement a significant overhaul of the agencies responsible for protecting the nation’s air, water, climate, and public lands.
Trump’s team is preparing to issue a series of executive orders and presidential proclamations aimed at reshaping climate and energy policies. Key actions include withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, dismantling offices focused on pollution in underserved communities, and reducing the size of national monuments in the West to promote drilling and mining. It’s a strategy that aligns with allies of the president-elect in their efforts to dismantle what they see as the “woke” agenda and eliminate programs they view as ineffective for economic growth.
Trump also plans to swiftly reverse the Biden administration’s freeze on permitting new natural gas export terminals and revoke a longstanding waiver that allows California and other states to enforce stricter pollution standards than the federal government. Those involved in the discussions say the transition team is particularly focused on advancing Trump’s plan to relocate tens of thousands of federal employees, starting with those at the EPA.
Also Monday, Trump selected Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser as the president-elect continues to build his team ahead of his second term.
Waltz has been one of President-elect Trump’s most prominent surrogates during the 2024 campaign, leading military outreach efforts and assisting with the Veterans For Trump coalition, Fox News reported Monday evening.
The Florida congressman is the first retired Green Beret to serve in Congress and brings prior administration experience, having worked as a policy adviser to former Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Waltz being offered the role.
