According to the New York Post, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Representative Lee Zeldin as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Zeldin, aged 44, previously served four terms as a Republican congressman representing Long Island. He gained national attention during his 2022 campaign for New York governor, where he narrowly lost to incumbent Kathy Hochul.
In a statement to The Post, Zeldin expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “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.”
He also emphasized his commitment to environmental stewardship and public health, stating, “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.”
Trump, confirming Zeldin’s appointment, praised the former congressman’s legal expertise and dedication to America First policies. “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,” Trump said.
He further highlighted Zeldin’s experience, stating, “I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations. I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!”
Zeldin has a record of working to protect Long Island from potentially hazardous dredge waste, and his nomination may face less opposition from Democrats compared to some other potential candidates for the role.
Zeldin will join Trump’s cabinet alongside Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, whom Trump recently named as his U.N. ambassador. Both Zeldin and Stefanik were part of Trump’s ceremonial defense team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.
The EPA should also be concerned with the importing of goods – how about an “environmental protection tariff”? If a good is imported from a country that doesn’t have similar (enforced) environmental protections, there must be a tariff to keep prices competitive and push to protect the environment around the world.
Hopefully he leads it out of existence… the free market can protect our environment better than government bureaucrats…