Mr. Zeldin, a Trump loyalist, would be charged with dismantling climate rules and perhaps the agency itself. He faced questions from the Senate Thursday.

The Senate intensifies confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet picks, with Scott Bessent, Doug Burgum, and Lee Zeldin defending their qualifications. Meanwhile, Pam Bondi faces further scrutiny in a second round of questioning.

Lee Zeldin, President-elect Trump's pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, testified at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

WASHINGTON -- Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin denied that he will favor industry over the environment and declared he thinks climate change is real as he faced questions Thursday on his nomination to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

I believe that climate change is real,” Zeldin said, adding that he would work to “ensure we are protecting our environment, while also protecting our economy.”

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., President-elect Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Senate Committee hearing on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Former Long Island congressman Lee Zeldin will face tough questions from Democrats about his fitness to be the EPA administrator at a Senate hearing Thursday, but he appears to be on a path to confirmation.

Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, enjoyed a fairly easy confirmation hearing Thursday. Zeldin, in testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,

President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Thursday morning. Trump, who has signaled that he would roll back environmental regulations in his second term,

Zeldin will appear Thursday before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for his confirmation hearing to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.