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Zeldin Approved by Senate Committee

23 Jan 2025

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced the nomination of former Congressman Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, sending it to the full Senate for consideration.

Before the vote, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., the ranking member of the committee, expressed doubt about whether Zeldin was the right choice as EPA administrator based on President Donald Trump's executive actions this week. Whitehouse questioned Zeldin's ability to stand against Trump's agenda.

"The Trump agenda, after receiving immense funding from fossil fuels, is to break down climate change protections, so that his big oil donors can sell more oil and gas and pollute," Whitehouse said ahead of the vote.

Zeldin appeared before the committee last week, fielding questions from both sides for about three hours. During that hearing, Whitehouse asked Zeldin whether he would be influenced in making decisions at EPA by oil and gas interests that he received donations from during his eight years in Congress. Zeldin indicated that it would have no bearing.

"The question becomes, is this gentleman capable of standing against that big oil political juggernaut?" Whitehouse said on Thursday. "Sadly, all signs point to no. His consulting for Trump-affiliated organizations and his op-eds spouting big oil-approved talking points do not inspire confidence. He sits on the board of a Trump-affiliated dark money operation and won't disclose its donors even to the ethics officials looking for conflicts of interest at EPA. The American people deserve to know who the donors are and of course so does EPA ethics teams, so they can know whether decisions he makes at EPA are driven by those."

Whitehouse, who voted against Zeldin's nomination, said he was concerned that Zeldin did not disavow the possibility of moving EPA headquarters when asked last week and whether agency employees would be released.

"When asked if he supported traumatizing or firing most of EPA staff, he equivocated," Whitehouse said.

"He refused to acknowledge the price of oil is set by a cartel and driven by geopolitical events over which we have no control. And when asked about wind power, he spouted fossil fuel-funded talking points about harms to marine life that are offensive to anyone who knows anything about oceans and marine life. We're in a perilous moment. We have moved from the time of climate lies -- frustrating and infuriating as that period was -- to the time of climate consequences."

Committee Chairman Sen. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., countered Whitehouse in announcing her support for Zeldin.

"He described his intent to take a collaborative approach both as administrator and demonstrated also through his work with Congress and this committee and all of its members to address the pressing issues of environmental needs that our nation faces in this moment," Capito said.

"In particular, I deeply appreciated Congressman Zeldin's efforts to meet with all members of the committee prior to his hearing and his commitment to work with all of us to address the issues we have raised that impact our constituents, states and our country. If he said it once, he said it probably a dozen times: Transparency is going to be one of the hallmarks of his service. I believe he is well-qualified for the position of administrator and will be an excellent addition to the president's cabinet."

Capito said she was encouraged by Zeldin's testimony last week that he intends to run the EPA "in line with the laws" Congress has passed.

"As we have seen over the past 25 years, the policy of the EPA can have a significant impact on not just the environment but our economy," she said. "Unfortunately, too often, the EPA strays from its mission."