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President-elect Trump’s pick for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin appears poised to carry out the significant level of climate and environmental deregulation that Trump has indicated he plans to pursue after a hearing on Thursday moved him toward his likely confirmation. .
During the confirmation hearing, Zeldin declined to say whether he believed the EPA had a responsibility to regulate climate change under the law.
“It wasn’t a Supreme Court decision that if there was a fire in 2025 in California, that if that fire creates a danger to people … then that triggers the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide. There there’s more,” Zeldin said.
“It’s pretty simple, it says that the EPA is supposed to be the environmental watchdog, not a fossil fuel scythe,” responded Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
The tense exchange was about the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that the agency must determine whether global warming emissions endanger public health and, by so much, if they must be regulated.
In 2009, the EPA determined that greenhouse gasesendanger the publicand therefore required regulation.
It’s unclear whether Zeldin would seek to review that 2009 determination. Asked about the endangerment finding after the hearing, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.) said “it’s too early to say” if it will be re-examined.
Zeldin’s comments are not expected to derail his confirmation chances, as four Republicans would have to turn around to oppose him.
he it was a surprise choice for the EPA administrator role because during his term in Congress, he was best known for working on international affairs.
But he has been a staunch supporter of Trump, even during the former president’s first impeachment in 2019.
He is expected to continue to defend Trump and carry out the president’s policies, including reducing climate regulations and environmental protections, if confirmed.
“I hope your confirmation will be very positive,” Capito said at the end of the hearing. He told reporters he hopes to advance the nomination “as soon as possible.”
Trump has repeatedly said he hopes to reduce climate and other environment-related regulations, including those related to climate-warming emissions from power plants and cars.
During the hearing, Zeldin himself said climate change is real, but also defended Trump’s past comments calling climate change a “hoax.”
“I think climate change is real,” he said, but added, “In terms of President Trump, the context I’ve heard him talk about was with a critique of the policies that have been enacted because of the change climate.”
“I think he’s concerned about the economic cost of some policies,” Zeldin added.
“I would respectfully disagree with you,” responded Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “I think he’s called it a hoax time and time again.”
Trump has done this repeatedly and incorrectlyminimized the effectsof climate change.
During the hearing, Zeldin also said that “no one has expressed to me in any setting … of any plan” formove the headquarters of the EPA.
The New York Times reported that members of Trump’s transition were discussing moving the Washington headquarters. The previous Trump administration moved the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management to Colorado.
Members on both sides of the aisle also asked Zeldin about toxic “forever chemicals.”
These chemicals have been used in a wide range of products, from non-stick pans to military firefighting foams, and have spread to US waterways. They have been linked to a number of health conditions, including several types of cancer.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) asked him about the liability issues raised by the recent EPA report. designation of two types of these substances as dangerous. Zeldin did not state a firm position on the issue.
