Trump appoints Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday named former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to head the Environmental Protection Agency in his administration.

In a statement announcing the appointment, Trump described the former four-term Long Island Republican in the House of Representatives as “a true fighter for America First policies.”

“He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions, implemented in a way that unleashes the power of American companies while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said. “It will set new standards for environmental assessment and maintenance that will enable the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured manner.”

Zeldin said it was “an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.”

“We will restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the U.S. the world leader in AI. We will do this while protecting access to clean air and water,” Zeldin said in a statement on X.

The New York Post first reported Zeldin’s appointment.

“This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.”