President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former New York Representative Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of his administration, according to The New York Post. The appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, puts Zeldin at the helm of a federal agency with a $9.1 billion budget and over 15,000 employees.
Up until last year, Lee Zeldin served as the representative for New York’s 1st Congressional District for nearly eight years, and he has quite an impressive background. He’s a military veteran who served in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division and still serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In his early twenties, he made a name for himself by becoming New York State’s youngest attorney. After that, he went on to serve in the state Senate before winning his seat in Congress.
Trump stated in his announcement that Lee Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions” that will promote American businesses, while also pledging to uphold “the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
Zeldin’s upcoming agenda, as reported by Mining Weekly, seems to focus on several key initiatives. According to the news outlet, the 44-year-old Albany Law School graduate plans to lift the current administration’s suspension on new natural gas export terminals and intends to adjust the boundaries of national monuments to encourage mining.
Furthermore, he seeks to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which was already done once after the country initially joined in 2016.
While speaking to Fox News on Monday, Lee Zeldin himself outlined some ambitious goals for his tenure. “Together, we will restore American energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the United States the global leader of Artificial Intelligence advancement,” He also announced his intention to “roll back regulations” that he believes have hindered American businesses, while still maintaining environmental protections.