Donald Trump Makes New Cabinet Appointment

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator.

Zeldin, a former representative of New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, gained national recognition for his competitive 2022 New York gubernatorial race against Kathy Hochul. Known for his legal expertise and alignment with America First policies, Zeldin is set to take on his new role despite a lack of direct environmental experience. Trump’s team stated, “Lee, with his strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions to empower American businesses while maintaining the highest standards for clean air and water.”

Though Zeldin lacks a background in environmental policy, he has been a loyal supporter of Trump and voted against certifying the 2020 election results. Following his nomination, Zeldin expressed on X, "We will restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and position the U.S. as a global AI leader, all while protecting access to clean air and water."

Throughout his campaign, Trump criticized the Biden administration's support for electric vehicles (EVs), often incorrectly labeling EV tax credits as mandates. His pledge to "Drill, baby, drill" underscores his commitment to traditional energy sources.

Under Zeldin’s direction, the EPA is expected to begin repealing and revising Biden-era regulations, focusing on relaxed methane emission standards for the oil and gas industry. Biden’s power plant emissions rules, which require coal plants to cut carbon emissions by 90% by 2032 or face closure, are also likely targets, given Trump’s opposition to strict environmental mandates. This shift could undermine Biden’s carbon-neutral electricity goal by 2035.

Biden's vehicle emissions standards, aiming for two-thirds of car sales to be electric or hybrid by 2032, may also be relaxed. Such rollbacks would align with Trump’s support for traditional automotive industries, potentially slowing the EV market’s growth and impacting emissions targets.

International climate commitments could also be affected. Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, and a similar approach could undermine Biden’s climate diplomacy.