Farming and other groups, including the American Trucking Association (ATA), swiftly lined up to congratulate Zeldin.

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.

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)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Lee Zeldin, the Jewish Long Island Republican congressman, made the case for President Donald Trump by talking up his own service to his constituents and telling a harrowing ...

Long Island environmentalists offered mixed reviews of Lee Zeldin's answers during his Senate confirmation hearing for EPA administrator.

WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles.

Former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin has been confirmed as the new Environmental Protection Agency administrator, with the Senate voting 56-42 in favor on Wednesday. Zeldin, nominated by Donald Trump, previously served eight years in Congress representing New York’s 1st District.

Several Democrats voted in favor of Zeldin, a former lawmaker from New York who will oversee an agency tasked with protecting the environment and public health.

Zeldin, 44, is from New York. He served eight years in Congress and lost a race for governor in 2022. He is expected to push deregulation.

President Donald Trump withdrew a Biden administration plan to set new limits on chemical discharge into drinking water, worrying some Long Island leaders.

Two New York Republicans are headed to the Trump cabinet with Rep. Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador and Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator.