Trump’s EPA Nominee Faces Senate Grilling on Climate Change Stance

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, faced a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, where he was pressed on his climate change views and plans for the agency. The hearing, held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, highlighted the stark divide between Zeldin’s acknowledgment of climate science and Trump’s repeated dismissal of the issue as a “hoax.”

Zeldin, a Republican and longtime Trump ally, emphasized his commitment to balancing environmental protection with economic growth. “The American people deserve a clean environment without suffocating the economy,” Zeldin said during the hearing. He pledged to promote “common sense, smart regulation” and foster collaboration with the private sector.

Democrats, however, questioned Zeldin’s stance on climate change, a topic Trump has consistently downplayed. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., pressed Zeldin on the scientific consensus regarding carbon dioxide emissions and their impact on global warming. “I don’t sit before you as a scientist,” Zeldin responded, though he later acknowledged that carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere.

Zeldin’s nomination comes as Trump has vowed to roll back environmental regulations enacted under President Joe Biden, including tailpipe emissions standards and power plant pollution limits. During the hearing, Zeldin avoided committing to specific policies, stating he would not “prejudge outcomes” before taking office. When asked about programs promoting electric vehicles, which Trump has criticized, Zeldin remained noncommittal, saying he would review existing rules.

Republicans on the committee praised Zeldin’s approach, with several senators expressing frustration over what they called the Biden administration’s “heavy-handed” enforcement of environmental regulations. Zeldin also pledged to respect recent Supreme Court rulings that have limited the EPA’s regulatory authority, emphasizing that “laws are written by Congress.”

Environmental advocates have criticized Zeldin’s record, noting his 14% lifetime score from the League of Women Voters on environmental issues. He voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate bill, but has supported measures to address harmful chemicals in drinking water and conservation efforts, including the Great American Outdoors Act.

Zeldin’s confirmation hearing underscores the challenges he would face in leading an agency central to Trump’s agenda of deregulation and fossil fuel development. If confirmed, Zeldin would inherit an EPA tasked with implementing policies that balance environmental protection with economic growth, a mission that has drawn both praise and skepticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups alike.