Lee Zeldin has an ambitious agenda for the Environmental Protection Agency, even beyond undoing years of damage from President Joe Biden and various states — but he’ll be consulting lawyers to ensure every move is lawsuit-proof, he told The Post in his first interview after being confirmed head of the powerful agency Wednesday.
Actions “have to be a result of a process where I am being briefed on the latest research and science and making a decision after the career professionals at EPA have the opportunity to share their thoughts and research with me. Durability is going to be an important priority for me with initiatives that I take,” he said. “If I cut a corner that I’m not allowed to cut or prejudge an outcome that I’m not allowed to prejudge, and a state brings the EPA to court to challenge the action, a judge can overturn the action because EPA did not follow the processes required by law.”
It’s a wise if somewhat unsexy approach: President Trump’s first executive orders faced court challenges barely before the ink had dried. But the former Long Island congressman, a lawyer himself, has plans no less bold than those of his boss.
“Being able to work with the Trump administration to unleash energy dominance, bring back American auto jobs, pursue permitting reform and make America the AI capital of the world are just some of the very important ways the EPA can help implement an agenda that helps make America prosperous again,” Zeldin said.
“Artificial intelligence” aren’t words normally associated with the EPA. But Zeldin, who achieved the lieutenant-colonel rank in the Army, noted “the need for more of an energy supply is going to be important” to lead the sector, which China’s DeepSeek unsettled this week.
Those aren’t his only top priorities; he wants to clean up the agency, which boasts 18,742 employees and a nearly $11 billion budget.
“Operationally, it’s important to get employees back into the office and working and collaborating. I’ve been told that the EPA building is often at about 20% capacity on any given day. I’ll be able to confirm that firsthand once I’m in the building,” he noted.
As if that isn’t going to be hard enough, Zeldin’s also “been greatly concerned with the lack of accountability on tens of billions of dollars that have gone out the door of the EPA during the Biden administration.”
A video released post-election showed “a Biden political appointee on camera talking about how the EPA is ‘tossing gold bars off the Titanic.’ The gold bars being tax dollars,” he said. “They were rushing to toss the gold bars off the Titanic before the president’s inauguration” — “giving out these funds to recipient NGOs with the desire of being able to go find jobs with these entities after. Wow.”
Zeldin says his first trip as boss will likely include North Carolina and California. “I’ve been told that there are approximately 13,000 properties that are currently going through reviews for hazardous material” in the Golden State, he said. “We need to pursue ways to be able to complete that inspection and removal as quickly as possible, working with local residents and other levels of government.”
But the agency has plenty of cleanup to do right at home. “I’ll give you an example. The Climate Justice Alliance received $50 million in grant funding, even though their position is ‘the path to climate justice travels through a free Palestine,’” he said with disbelief.
Zeldin aims to make “American prosperity” a big part of his mission. It’s what Americans voted for, he emphasized.
“In the name of climate change, there have been decisions made at the state and federal level that caused a very disproportionate amount of economic pain on Americans who can least afford it. Many Democrats this past November voted Republican for the first time — voted for President Trump — because they didn’t feel like these left-wing policies in the name of climate were looking out for their pocketbooks, and they were struggling to make ends meet,” he said. “It’s very important for the EPA to be cognizant of the economic impacts of the policies coming out of the agency.”
He’s also hoping to give Gothamites relief from Gov. Hochul’s congestion tax and “the financial toll on New Yorkers who can’t afford it.” The state’s fracking ban could be on the table too.
And the born-and-bred New Yorker will be a key figure in implementing his boss’ agenda. “In the course of 2024’s presidential campaign, President Trump was talking about a lot of issues that are part of the jurisdiction and responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency,” he pointed out. Zeldin stumped for Trump throughout the swing states.
Three Senate Democrats voted to confirm Zeldin — the most Dem votes a Republican EPA nominee has received in about 20 years. Still, he is certain to face pushback in his new role especially on fossil fuels. Don’t expect him to waver.
“Most of the energy supply for Americans come from coal and natural gas, and turning off those two spigots will cause an existential disaster for this country,” he said.
“I come into the position greatly informed and passionate about the many ways that places like New York have suffocated the economy irresponsibly under the banner of climate change,” Zeldin added. “I am looking forward to [helping] make life easier for hardworking citizens and business owners all across this country, whether you’re from a red state or a blue state or purple state.”
He added, “The mission of providing cleaner, safer and healthier air and water is critical, and we have to pursue that mission with an intense desire to help unleash American prosperity and deliver the greatest four years that any of us can remember our nation having throughout our lifetimes.”
His Day One message to employees, going out by email Thursday, ends: “Let’s get to work!”
