5 Takeaways From Lee Zeldin’s EPA Confirmation Hearing

Zeldin said climate change is a reality and spoke about armed EPA agents, plastic pollution, and the need to balance environmental protection with the economy.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin testifies before a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on his nomination to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on Capitol Hill in on Jan. 16, 2025. Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON—Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, testified on Jan. 16 before senators on the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Although lawmakers challenged the former New York congressman on some financial controversies, the first round of questioning on Jan. 16 was relatively friendly. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle noted that Zeldin had met with them ahead of the hearing.