Lee Zeldin Grilled On Climate Change At Senate Confirmation Hearing

LONG ISLAND, NY — Former Rep. Lee Zeldin appeared before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for his confirmation hearing Thursday, the step before he would become the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

President-elect Donald Trump announced in November that he would appoint former Rep. Zeldin, a longtime supporter and political ally from Long Island, as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

At the hearing, Zeldin answered a series of questions on a range of topics including PFAS contamination, solar energy, clean drinking water and other environmental issues.

He faced heated questioning from those asking about climate change and its impacts, including deadly fires, and flooding due to sea level rise.

Senator Bernie Sanders said 2024 was the hottest year in recent history with "unprecedented forest fires" and the current "horrific situation in Los Angeles." He also mentioned "unprecedented flooding in China and the drought in Africa and Brazil" that has led to death, with crops unable to grow.

"In the midst of all this, Trump has said that climate change is a hoax," Sander said. "If confirmed you will be one of the leading spokespersons in the world. Do you agree?"

Zeldin replied: "I believe climate change is real." He then said Trump's comment was made in the "context of policies enacted because of climate change" and said the President-elect was concerned about the cost.

"I would respectfully disagree," Sanders said. "He's called it a hoax, time and time again."

Some, Sanders said, have called climate change an "existential threat,," as evidenced by the "apocalyptic" situation in Los Angeles and "terrible weather disturbances in the Midwest." Even the capital of his own state, Vermont, "was underwater in ways that we have not seen."

He asked if Zeldin would consider climate change an existential threat, "meaning an urgency to get our act together and address this?"

Zeldin said: "We must with urgency be addressing these issues today. Any way the EPA can do its part to make sure air and water" are clean and safe, it should be, he said.

Sanders also asked if Zeldin would be willing to work with other nations "aggressively" to cut carbon emissions, including China, Europe and Latin America, among others.

"It's very important to be reaching out to other countries to make sure there is pressure on other nations to do their part," Zeldin said. "It's my job to lose sleep at night to make air and water cleaner."

Sanders said China is now the world's largest carbon polluter, with the United States second. "We won't solve the problem without working with China. Are you prepared?"

Zeldin said he was, working with all nations including "our greatest adversaries. Right now, China is an adversary in many respects."

Senator Ed Markey asked about a 2016 congressional debate when Zeldin said it was "imperative to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."

On Thursday, Zeldin said "in an ideal world," it would be best to pursue the "greenest, cleanest" energy solutions.

"I did not hear you saying you agree," Markey said, pointing to the storms in Georgia and North Carolina and the fires in Los Angeles, that are attributed, he said, to climate change. "I'm worried now your change of tone is not science, but politics."

He then asked about a Supreme Court ruling that states that the EPA is obligated to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants, if they are anticipated to endanger public health.

"Yes, authorized to," Zeldin emphasized.

Markey repeated the words "obligated to." He asked about the fires in LA and Zeldin agreed residents were in danger, their homes burning down.

"Then you have an obligation," Markey said. "Do you see your job at the EPA as doing something about it — we are watching firefighters run toward the flames. Do you feel the EPA is essential to keeping the fiery embers of climate change under control — or are you going to fan the flames of destruction with fossil fuels, which are responsible.for our rapidly warming country?"

Zeldin said as far as the Supreme Court case goes, a fire in 2025 in California would not trigger the EPA to "regulate carbon dioxide. There's more to it than that."

"It's pretty simple," Markey said. "The EPA is supposed to be the environmental watchdog and not the fossil fuel lapdog. We are supposed to have families able to sleep at night knowing their water is clean and safe."

He added: "Between 2016 and today, something has happened and you won't say fossil fuels are the culprit — and it's the EPA's job to reduce" them, he said.

In a statement after Zeldin's nomination, Trump said: "I am pleased to announce that the highly respected former Congressman from New York, Lee Zeldin, will be appointed to serve as the administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet. 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 added that he has "known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations. I am very proud to have him in the Trump administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!"

Zeldin wrote on social media at the time: "It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. We will restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water."

The nomination for EPA administrator will need confirmation from the Senate, where Republicans will hold the majority of seats, NPR said.

Zeldin, who lives in Shirley with his wife and two daughters, represented the 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023. He bested former Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst for the seat and later emerged victorious against Dem challenger Nancy Goroff. He later waged an unsuccessful campaign in 2022, hoping to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul.

According to his bio, at 23, Zeldin was the youngest attorney in New York State at the time, Trump said. He served four years of active duty in the U.S. Army as military intelligence officer, prosecutor, and military magistrate. In 2006, he deployed to Iraq and today still serves in the U.S. Reserve.

Zeldin was elected to the NYS Senate in 2010, where he served until elected to Congress in 2014. During eight years in Congress, Zeldin served on the House foreign affairs committee and the House financial services committee. He co-chaired the House Republican Israel Caucus.
Zeldin's platform has long been built on the pillars of foreign policy, border security, military affairs, combating antisemitism, environmental issues, and energy. Locally on Long Island, he has long fought to preserve Plum Island and protect is rich environmental resources — and advocated for veterans.

Zeldin's political ties with Trump have long run deep. In 2022, Zeldin, a Republican received the official endorsement of Trump in his race for the governor's seat against Democratic incumbent Hochul.

Trump's endorsement at the time praised his longtime political ally.

"I have watched and known Congressman Lee Zeldin for many years. He is a great and brilliant lawyer who was a 'must see' for others in Congress when they had a complex legal problem that was holding up legislation. Lee was strong on the Border, Crime, our great Military & Vets (like few others!), and fought hard to protect our 2nd Amendment, and succeeded. Lee Zeldin is a WINNER who GOT THINGS DONE. He will be a GREAT Governor of New York, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. GOOD LUCK LEE!"

Also in 2022, Trump held a fundraiser for Zeldin in New Jersey, with Zeldin turning to him for campaign funds, according to the New York Times.

Zeldin's reported support of Trump has been questioned by some in the past. In January 2021, Zeldin's praise of then-President Trump was trending on Twitter just hours after Trump was impeached for the second time.

Zeldin has been a staunch Trump supporter on Long Island for years. He was included in the immigration forum Trump held on Long Island that focused on eradicating gang violence. Donald Trump Jr. was a guest at a Zeldin fundraiser, and Zeldin has greeted the president as he landed on the East End for fundraising events.

Zeldin's loyalty to Trump has raised questions for some.

In January 2022, after decrying the violence that rocked the U.S. Capitol, Zeldin voted to object to the certification of the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.