Everything Lee Zeldin Has Said About Climate Change

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that former New York Representative Lee Zeldin will head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during his second term. 

Zeldin, a 44-year-old Republican, previously ran for governor of New York in 2022 and left Congress in 2023. Trump stated that Zeldin’s leadership would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will unleash the power of American businesses.” Despite being a longtime critic of climate regulations, Zeldin will also uphold “the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” according to Trump. The statement erroneously referred to the EPA as the “Environmental Protective Agency.”

Throughout his political career, Zeldin has held mixed views on environmental issues. While he has supported some renewable energy initiatives, such as extending solar investment tax credits and exploring offshore wind potential, his environmental record has faced criticism. He did not serve on committees overseeing environmental policy during his time in Congress, and his lifetime rating from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) was a mere 14 percent. In 2020, his LCV score rose to 24 percent, still far below the average for New York representatives. Zeldin was also criticized for voting against the Clean Air Act, despite Suffolk County's poor air quality.

In 2016, Zeldin led an effort to shift control of 150 square miles of federal waters in Long Island Sound to state jurisdiction, with the goal of opening the area to striped bass fishing. He also co-sponsored the Carbon Capture Improvement Act to promote carbon capture technology but faced backlash for votes perceived as favoring fossil fuel industries and opposing stricter environmental regulations.

Critics note his lack of support for key climate and conservation measures, including efforts to phase out harmful fishing gear and expand natural area protections. However, Zeldin has pointed to his work securing funding for projects like Long Island Sound cleanup and opposing offshore drilling as examples of his commitment to local environmental concerns. In his 2022 governor's race, Zeldin pledged to reverse New York's fracking ban.

In a Fox News interview on Monday, Zeldin expressed his desire to help the U.S. achieve "energy dominance" and bring American jobs back to industries like automotive manufacturing. He also stated his eagerness to implement Trump’s economic agenda, noting, “The American people are so hungry for it. It's one of the big reasons why they're sending him back to the White House."

Trump's administration will also include longtime advisor Stephen Miller, who will serve as deputy chief of policy, and New York Representative Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has nominated for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.