The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York to be the administrator of the EPA by a vote of 56-42.
Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, both of Arizona, and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined all Republicans voting in favor of his nomination. Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Jon Ossoff of Georgia did not vote.
Zeldin said the agency must protect the environment “without suffocating the economy” during his confirmation hearing this month. Under Trump, the EPA is expected to roll back a number of Biden administration regulations, such as those governing releases from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants and vehicle emissions.
