Donald Trump Appoints Former Lawmaker Lee Zeldin to Lead US Environment Body

Photo : AP

Donald Trump has nominated former Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), continuing his trend of fast-paced cabinet appointments. The announcement, made on Monday, comes with a clear directive from the president-elect for Zeldin to take a strong stance on rolling back environmental regulations introduced during President Joe Biden’s administration.

If Zeldin is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he will assume the role of EPA Administrator with a mandate to reverse many of the regulatory actions put in place by Biden’s team, including tightening pollution standards for vehicles and increasing restrictions on industrial emissions. Trump stated that Zeldin, with his solid legal background and history of supporting America First policies, would be tasked with making “swift deregulatory decisions.” This would involve dismantling various protections intended to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and combat climate change.

In his announcement, Trump emphasized that Zeldin, a former four-term congressman from New York, has been a staunch advocate for policies that prioritize American businesses and job creation. The president-elect highlighted that Zeldin would be able to balance environmental standards with the economic growth needed to support American industries, ensuring that U.S. companies are not hindered by what Trump perceives as overly stringent regulations.

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"Lee has been a true fighter for America First policies," Trump said, underscoring Zeldin's alignment with his own approach to governance. Zeldin’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to counter Biden’s environmental policies, which have aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting clean energy initiatives, and imposing tougher environmental safeguards.

Trump has long been a critic of stringent climate change policies. During his first presidential campaign in 2016, he famously declared that he would dismantle the EPA "in almost every form," leaving only "little tidbits" behind. In his previous term, Trump made significant cuts to the EPA's budget, restructured its operations, and rolled back many of its regulations aimed at protecting the environment.

Under Biden, the EPA has taken steps to reverse some of Trump’s deregulation, tightening emissions standards for vehicles and expanding limits on pollutants like methane and mercury. However, Trump has been vocal in his belief that many of Biden’s policies are damaging to the economy and to American industries. If elected, Trump has indicated that one of his top priorities would be to undo these regulatory actions and reinstate policies more favorable to businesses, particularly in the energy sector.

In a message posted on social media, Zeldin expressed gratitude to Trump for his nomination. He stated that his goal as EPA Administrator would be to "restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, while protecting access to clean air and water." His comments reflect his commitment to balancing environmental protections with economic growth, emphasizing that the two are not mutually exclusive.

Zeldin’s nomination has already sparked debate, with environmental advocates expressing concern about the potential rollback of key protections aimed at addressing climate change and pollution. However, for Trump and his supporters, Zeldin’s appointment is seen as a necessary step toward reducing what they see as burdensome regulations that hinder business and economic development.

As the nomination heads to the Senate for confirmation, the political battle over environmental policy is set to intensify, with Zeldin at the center of the debate. His stance on deregulatory actions could set the tone for the future of U.S. environmental policy under a potential second Trump administration.