★ Government Action
Senate confirms Zeldin as EPA chief despite no climate background
Climate Policy RollbackTrump Cabinet
Filed January 2025
★ The Brief
What happened
On January 29, 2025, the Senate confirmed Zeldin as EPA Administrator by a 56-42 vote. He had served four terms as a New York congressman before running unsuccessfully for governor in 2022.
Who enabled it
Who benefits
On January 29, 2025, the Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a 56-42 vote. Zeldin had served four terms as U.S. representative for New York's 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023 before running unsuccessfully for New York governor in 2022. He had no significant prior climate or environmental policy role. He had voted against certifying the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021. Trump announced the nomination on November 11, 2024.
Actors
Who pushed it · 1Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.
Donald TrumpAnnounced Zeldin's nomination for EPA Administrator on November 11, 2024.
Beneficiaries
Who gained · 1Who stood to gain.
Lee ZeldinConfirmed as EPA Administrator by 56-42 Senate vote on January 29, 2025. Four-term Long Island Republican congressman (2015-2023) with no prior climate or environmental policy role; voted against certifying the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021.
Further reading
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2026Trump's EPA eliminates climate endangerment finding and emission rules
- ★ Government ActionOctober 2025Interior reopens 1.56-million-acre ANWR Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing
- ★ Government ActionOctober 2025Trump approves Ambler Road across Alaska wilderness for critical-minerals access
- ★ Government ActionMarch 2025Senate confirms Trump's personal lawyer Blanche as Deputy AG
- ★ Government ActionMarch 2025Senate confirms WWE co-founder McMahon as Education Secretary
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Senate confirms top MAGA donor Lutnick as Commerce Secretary