(The Center Square) – The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Lee Zeldin as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
One of President Donald Trump’s less controversial nominees, Zeldin received 56 votes in the Senate, picking up three Democrats.
“Honored to begin this exciting journey as the 17th [EPA] Administrator,” Zeldin posted on X after he was confirmed. “Together, we will harness the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship. Time to get to work!”
Trump picked Zeldin, a veteran, as part of of his focus on domestic energy production. But Zeldin won over the senators, including a few Democrats, without too much trouble.
Zeldin’s supporters expect him to cut back regulation and administrative blockages to boost domestic energy production, hoping to bring down costs for Americans.
“Lee Zeldin has stood against regulatory overreach and for jobs, economic prosperity, and the environment while serving in Congress and in his private practice,” Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance, said in a statement. “His quick and bipartisan confirmation means he can walk into the agency today and begin tackling the ambitious agenda laid out in President Trump’s executive orders.”
Sgamma pointed in particular to Biden’s methane rules.
“We also call attention to the last-minute accelerated ozone designations in Utah meant to tie the hands of the state and the Ute Indian Tribe,” she added, laying out what will likely be one of a list of requests from the energy industry as Trump settles into power.
So far Trump has issued dozens of executive orders, including one that declare a national energy emergency and another that ends a Biden-era tailpipe emissions rule that would have pushed Americans to transition to electric vehicles.
More orders of that kind are likely on the way as Trump has repeatedly named energy as a top priority. Zeldin will be at the helm of navigating the legal and technical implications of those orders.
“I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations,” Trump said in a statement after nominating Zeldin last year. “I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!”
