Former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin has been confirmed as the new Environmental Protection Agency administrator, with the Senate voting 56-42 in favor on Wednesday. Zeldin, nominated by Donald Trump, previously served eight years in Congress representing New York’s 1st District.
During confirmation hearings, Zeldin highlighted his bipartisan environmental efforts, including securing funds to protect the Long Island Sound and Plum Island. Senate Democrats questioned his understanding of climate science.
Zeldin joins other Trump appointees with congressional backgrounds, including Rep. Elise Stefanik and former Rep. Brandon Williams. He narrowly lost the 2022 New York governor’s race to Kathy Hochul in the state’s closest election in nearly three decades.
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