Hearing Summary for the Nomination of Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the EPA
On January 16th, 2025, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing entitled, “Hearing on the Nomination of the Honorable Lee M. Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency” lasting approximately three hours. The atmosphere was supportive by all Republican members, but the Democratic members were doubtful of his commitment to mitigate climate risks.
Overall Impression
Summary: The hearing began with Chairman Capito (R-WV) discussing her confidence in Mr. Zeldin as President Trump’s nominee for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, Ranking Member Whitehouse (D-RI) began by expressing his concern over the threat of climate change and the impact it will have on our economy, which Mr. Zeldin did not show the same concern for. Throughout the hearing Republicans expressed the belief that Mr. Zeldin will provide “a balanced approach to the regulatory process,” while Democrats were largely concerned by his loyalties to the fossil fuel industry.
Republicans: Republicans raised the issue of many EPA policies prioritizing “radical environmentalism” over economic well-being, emphasizing how over-regulation hampers growth.
Democrats: Democratic members wanted assurance that Mr. Zeldin would commit to combatting climate change citing specific concerns over rising sea levels and water and air quality.
Bipartisan: Many Democrat and Republican members discussed the EPA’s “one size fits all” regulations in hopes that Mr. Zeldin will take a more community-based approach as the next potential administrator. In her introduction, Chairman Capito and Ranking Member Whitehouse also discussed their shared support for permitting reform.
Witnesses
Energy
A number of senators discussed concerns relating to increasing energy demand with Chairman Capito referencing how “this demand is driven by our onshoring of our manufacturing and powering data centers and other things to win the artificial intelligence race.” Mr. Zeldin also expressed his commitment to stop the EPA from “holding up” any permitting.
Mr. Zeldin, along with other Republican members, showed support for the growth of this industry specifically through exploitation of fossil fuels. Chair of the Digital Assets Sub-Committee Sen. Lummis (R-WY) expressed the need for the U.S. to support its data centers through building up energy infrastructure and the need for a continued reliance on fossil fuels.
Sen. Lummis: “[S]o the United States can remain the leader in the world on the development of artificial intelligence, [they must] provide that additional energy in the cleanest way possible and in some instances that may involve finding the absolute cleanest way to continue to use fossil fuels.”
Mr. Zeldin was supportive of her statements. Additionally, Sen. Lummis mentioned carbon capture and sequestration as important tools in order to continue using fossil fuels in the cleanest way possible.
Democrats expressed specific concerns over Mr. Zeldin’s commitment to promote the growth of the oil and gas industry in order to meet these energy demands with many looking for him to admit that fossil fuels are driving climate change. Sen. Markey (D-MA) stated how he feels that the EPA should be an environmental “watch dog” and not a fossil fuel “lap dog”. Additionally, when Sen. Sanders (I-VT) requested support for his “Solar for All” bill, Mr. Zeldin would not say that he would support it, driving further doubt on the Democratic side.