Former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, president-elect Donald J. Trump’s choose to run the Environmental Safety Company, advised senators on Thursday that he would “enthusiastically uphold” the company’s mission to guard human well being and the setting and that he grasped the essential science of local weather change.
Mr. Zeldin’s tone was markedly completely different from that of Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly known as world warming a “hoax” and stated he would “kill” main environmental rules, significantly these geared toward preventing local weather change.
Folks near the Trump transition have additionally really useful ousting E.P.A. profession employees, eliminating its scientific advisers, and shutting an workplace that helps minority communities that disproportionately wrestle with polluted air and water.
The nomination of Mr. Zeldin, 44, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2022, baffled many, since he has little background in environmental regulation. Showing earlier than the Senate Setting and Public Works Committee, Mr. Zeldin struggled to reply particular questions from some lawmakers about varied environmental points, telling them he was wanting to find out about them.
Mr. Zeldin pointed to his years representing his Lengthy Island district, which incorporates miles of shoreline and has a bipartisan custom of environmental conservation, as proof of his environmental stewardship. He additionally was a member of the Home Bipartisan Local weather Caucus and voted in favor of a 2016 chemical security legislation.
In his opening assertion to the committee, Mr. Zeldin stated, “I strongly imagine we now have an ethical accountability to be good stewards of the environment for generations to return. It’s been so motivating to see the large expertise stepping as much as serve on the E.P.A. I couldn’t be extra excited to companion with our E.P.A. crew nationwide, to exceptionally serve the American public.”
He additionally stated, “I’ll foster a collaborative tradition inside the company, supporting profession employees who’ve devoted themselves to this mission.”
However as a congressman, he voted towards the 2022 Inflation Discount Act, the largest local weather legislation ever handed by Congress, and he’s a loyal Trump supporter who voted towards certifying the outcomes of the 2020 election.
Over the course of his political profession, Mr. Zeldin acquired greater than $270,000 in marketing campaign contributions from the oil and fuel business, in response to OpenSecrets, which tracks marketing campaign funds.
In recent times, Mr. Zeldin opened a consulting enterprise. He served on the board of America First Works and had ties to its sister group, America First Coverage Institute, conservative teams which have labored with the Trump transition on plans to roll again local weather rules and promote fossil fuels. The pinnacle of America First Coverage Institute, Brooke Rollins, Mr. Trump’s nominee to go the Agriculture Division, is the previous head of the Texas Public Coverage Basis, a pro-fossil gas group that has funded the unfold of misinformation about local weather change.
“Being so surrounded by company and fossil gas affect, how is it that you simply’ll have the ability to separate your self from these pursuits after they come demanding issues that they’ve ‘earned’ politically?” requested Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island.
Mr. Zeldin stated he wouldn’t be swayed by previous connections or donors.
“There isn’t a one that has each supplied any stage of help to me who has any particular affect with me,” Mr. Zeldin replied. “There isn’t a greenback giant or small that may affect the choice that I make. “
When Mr. Whitehouse grilled the nominee on the essential science of local weather change, Mr. Zeldin waffled at first.
“What’s the impact of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil gas combustion?” Mr. Whitehouse requested Mr. Zeldin, referring to the chief explanation for the worldwide warming that’s dangerously heating the planet.
“Whereas I’m somebody who believes strongly that science and policymakers ought to work collectively, I feel we now have many gifted scientists who present that analysis,” Mr. Zeldin replied.
However when Mr. Whitehouse pressed, Mr. Zeldin ultimately responded precisely: “Trapping warmth, sir,” including “Greenhouse gases lure warmth.”
Mr. Trump has repeatedly stated he would erase President Biden’s signature local weather rules, together with a strict restrict on tailpipe air pollution that’s designed to chop greenhouse gases by compelling automakers to extend gross sales of hybrid and all-electric autos. The American Petroleum Institute, which lobbies on behalf giant oil corporations, put the rollback of the auto air pollution rule on the high of a want listing it delivered to Mr. Trump.
However when Senator Pete Ricketts, Republican of Nebraska, and Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, pressed Mr. Zeldin on whether or not he deliberate to undo that rule, he declined to reply.
“I’m not allowed to prejudge the outcomes going into rule-making,” he stated. “I don’t sit earlier than you with any kind of dedication that I’m going to make on any kind of rule that may change if I’m confirmed.”
Nonetheless, Republicans from fossil gas producing states appeared assured that they’d an ally in Mr. Zeldin. He was launched on the listening to by Senator John Barrasso, Republican of Wyoming, the place coal and oil are necessary to the financial system. Mr. Barrasso can be a longstanding opponent of insurance policies to cut back the usage of fossil fuels.
“Previously 4 years, E.P.A. has pushed insurance policies to kill jobs in Wyoming and lift prices for hundreds throughout the nation,” Mr. Barrasso stated, including that Mr. Zeldin would “stability environmental safety and pragmatic public coverage.”
Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Republican of West Virginia and the committee chair, advised Mr. Zeldin that she had deep issues about E.P.A. limits on emissions from smokestacks which might be so stringent, they might drive coal-fired energy crops to shut.
These closures might result in unacceptable “spiking vitality prices and rolling blackouts,” she stated.
“I’ve confidence that the E.P.A. underneath Congressman Zeldin’s management, will deal with the E.P.A.’s core mission to guard human well being and the setting, whereas acknowledging the essential function the company performs in our financial system and worldwide management,” she stated.
On the finish of the listening to, she advised him, “I count on your affirmation can be very optimistic.”
Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Democrat of Maryland, requested Mr. Zeldin whether or not the Trump administration plans to maneuver the E.P.A. headquarters out of the Washington area.
“Nobody has expressed to me in any setting since I used to be introduced as nominee or earlier than that any plans almost about shifting E.P.A. headquarters exterior of D.C.,” he replied. “I’m not conscious of any.”
Lisa Friedman contributed reporting.
