Zeldin faces climate change heat on path to confirmation

WASHINGTON — Under tough questioning Thursday by Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the EPA, affirmed a belief in climate change while pledging strict interpretation of the country’s environmental laws.

Zeldin, a former House lawmaker from New York, is expected to be confirmed based on strong support from Republicans. That left Democrats trying to pin him down on green policy and whether he differs from Trump’s stated view that climate change is a hoax.

“I believe that climate change is real,” Zeldin said under questioning from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “As far as President Trump goes, the context that I heard him speak about it was with a criticism of policies that have been (enacted) because of climate change, and I think he’s concerned about the economic costs of some policies.”

He promised, under much more cordial Republican questioning, to protect both the environment and the economy, as well as strictly interpret the country’s clean air and water laws.

“My first obligation will always be to follow my obligations under the law,” Zeldin said. “What brings us all together should be the ultimate goal of having clean air and clean water.”

The committee’s ranking member, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, didn’t seem convinced he would put the environment first.

“While running for president, (Trump) met the fossil fuel industry executives and told them they should give him a billion dollars in exchange for his reversing the rules to protect our air and water and limit the pollution that is driving climate change,” Whitehouse said. “These special interests now expect a return on their political investment.”

Whitehouse pressed Zeldin on whether he believes carbon dioxide emissions are a pollutant, the effect of those emissions in the atmosphere, and whether oceans are heating and acidifying.

In response, Zeldin deferred to “the scientists.” In a more tense exchange, Zeldin asserted that carbon dioxide is not considered a pollutant under the Clean Air Act, prompting Whitehouse to cite Massachusetts v. EPA, a 2007 Supreme Court decision that gave the agency authority to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.

And Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., cited remarks Zeldin made in Congress in 2016 in which he stated that “the key is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, to become more environmentally friendly and pursue clean and green energy.”

“First of all, I believe in ‘all of the above’ energy,” Zeldin responded.

“Climate change hasn’t gone away, and I’m just worried now your change of tone is politics and not the science,” Markey said.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., pressed Zeldin on campaign donations he had received from oil and gas companies. Zeldin asserted that he would not allow donations — past or present — to influence him in this position.

“Good luck standing up to these guys, because they’re gonna come at you,” Whitehouse said.

Science or law

Zeldin reiterated that he would closely follow the law — an assurance that appeals to those who argue that the Biden administration EPA overstepped its authority in issuing certain rules. Republican senators specified the outgoing administration’s strict standards on natural gas, coal power plant and vehicle emissions.

Zeldin, responding to Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said he wouldn’t promulgate a rule that singles out a specific fuel type, but didn’t promise to rescind specific rules.

“I will tell you that I have heard concerns from you and many others in this chamber of how important it is to look at rules that are currently on the books,” he said.

Committee Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., touted Zeldin’s record in Congress supporting legislation to “boost innovation for clean energy technologies and policies that strengthened our nation’s energy security.” That includes public land investments and marine debris cleanups.

Zeldin also voted in favor of bills aimed to limit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or “forever chemicals” in drinking water. He told senators that he intends to “move the needle” on cleaning up PFAS contamination across the country.

Zeldin was first elected to represent a district on New York’s Long Island in the House in 2014. He did not seek reelection in 2022 and instead ran unsuccessfully against Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. During his time in Congress he was a member of the Foreign Affairs and Financial Services committees.

Zeldin voted against both the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law and the 2022 climate, tax and health care reconciliation law. He was also one of the Republicans to vote against the 2017 Republican tax overhaul over opposition to changes for state and local tax deductions.

Since leaving Congress, Zeldin has chaired the China Policy Initiative at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank launched by former Trump administration officials.

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