Donald Trump Makes New Cabinet Appointment

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator.

Zeldin, known for his legal and legislative experience, represented New York's 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023 and gained national attention for nearly winning New York's 2022 gubernatorial race against Kathy Hochul.

"Lee, with his strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies," a statement from Trump's team on Monday said. "He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions to unleash the power of American businesses while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet."

After the announcement, Zeldin wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "It is 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 position the U.S. as the global leader in AI—all while protecting access to clean air and water."

Rep. Lee Zeldin in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Zeldin EPA adminstrator. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Under Trump, the EPA is expected to initiate a lengthy process to repeal and replace various standards approved during the Biden administration, including the rule on tailpipe emissions, which Trump has inaccurately labeled as an electric vehicle "mandate."

During his first term, Trump rolled back over 100 environmental regulations, which may increase in his second term.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.