Senate Confirms Lee Zeldin To Lead President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency

The Senate confirmed former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin in a bipartisan vote Wednesday afternoon to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during President Donald Trump’s second term.

Senators approved Zeldin’s nomination 56 to 42 with several Democrats, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, voting for the EPA nominee. Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Jon Ossoff of Georgia did not vote.

“He understands the stakes of environmental protection, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon prior to Zeldin’s confirmation vote. “But Mr. Zeldin also understands that the EPA can’t be a hammer in search of nails. EPA rules have to be balanced with the needs of our economy, our national security, and the American people.”

Zeldin pledged to protect the environment without imposing burdensome regulations on manufacturers and energy producers during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Jan. 16.

“The EPA must also be better stewards of tax dollars, honor cooperative federalism, and be transparent and accountable to Congress and the public,” Zeldin said during his opening remarks at the confirmation hearing. “A big part of this will require building private sector collaboration to promote common sense, smart regulation that will allow American innovation to continue to lead the world.”

Zeldin also committed to address the nation’s worsening