November 11, 2024 Mar-a-Lago, FL – President Donald J. Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, today announced that Lee Zeldin, the highly respected former Congressman from New York, will be appointed as the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a statement, President Trump praised Zeldin’s strong legal background and dedication to America First policies, emphasizing his ability to balance the country’s environmental needs with the promotion of American business. “Lee will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that unleash the power of American businesses while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said. The President also expressed confidence that Zeldin would set new standards for environmental review and maintenance, helping the United States grow in a healthy and well-structured manner.
Trump further highlighted his long relationship with Zeldin, describing him as someone who had handled complex and difficult situations with brilliance. “I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor,” Trump stated.
Lee Zeldin Biography:
Lee Zeldin is a former U.S. Congressman who represented New York’s First Congressional District from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, Zeldin made national headlines by nearly winning New York’s gubernatorial race, earning the most votes for a Republican candidate statewide since Nelson Rockefeller over 50 years ago. His strong performance helped Republicans flip multiple suburban House districts, contributing to the party’s majority in the House of Representatives.
Born and raised in Suffolk County, New York, Zeldin became the youngest attorney in New York State at the age of 23. He served four years on active duty in the U.S. Army, where he held roles as a Military Intelligence Officer, Prosecutor, and Military Magistrate. Zeldin deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. Today, he continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, marking over two decades of military service.
In 2010, Zeldin was elected to the New York State Senate, where he served until 2014, when he won a seat in Congress. During his eight years in Congress, Zeldin served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. As one of only two Jewish Republicans in Congress, he co-chaired the House Republican Israel Caucus, which had over 100 members. Zeldin was a vocal advocate for foreign policy, border security, military affairs, combating antisemitism, environmental issues, and energy policy. For his district, he championed major infrastructure and research projects, including the preservation of Plum Island and Army Corps of Engineers initiatives, as well as a $2 billion Electron-Ion Collider for Brookhaven National Lab.
Zeldin currently resides in Shirley, New York, with his wife, Diana, and their twin daughters, Mikayla and Arianna.
