Trump Appoints Lee Zeldin as EPA Chief, Bringing Second New Yorker into Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as the following Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, The Post has exclusively learned.

Robert Miller

Zeldin, 44, who represented Long Island in Congress for four terms, was selected for the position following his narrow loss in the 2022 New York governor’s race to Democrat Kathy Hochul.

In a statement, Zeldin expressed his gratitude for the appointment, emphasizing his commitment to economic growth and environmental protection. “I am deeply honoured to have been asked by President Trump to serve in his Cabinet,” Zeldin said. “As EPA Administrator, we will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs and make the United States the global leader in Artificial Intelligence advancement. At the same time, we will conserve our environment, protect clean air and water, and keep the American people healthy.”

Trump greets Lee Zeldin as he arrives to speak at a campaign event at a farm, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Smithton, Pa. AP.

Trump praised Zeldin’s legal background and described him as a “fighter for America First policies.” He added that Zeldin would work to remove bureaucratic hurdles, unleashing the potential of American businesses while maintaining high environmental standards. “He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way,” Trump said.

Zeldin’s political track record includes his efforts to protect Long Island from harmful dredge waste, which could make him a less controversial pick for environmentalists compared to some of Trump’s other Cabinet nominees. The former congressman will join Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was announced as Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, in the incoming administration. Zeldin and Stefanik had previously served on Trump’s defence team during his first impeachment trial in 2020.

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