The Big Story 

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) 56-42 to take the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

© Greg Nash for The Hill

Democratic Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.,), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.). joined every Republican in backing Zeldin. 

During his confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed Zeldin on climate change — given President Trump’s frequent dismissal of the phenomenon as a hoax. While Zeldin says he believes climate change is real, he defended Trump's comments calling it a hoax.

They questioned him about opinion pieces he was paid to author, including those that reportedly criticized a variety of climate actions.

Zeldin was not expected to be a particularly controversial pick compared to some of Trump's other appointees such as newly minted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or director of national intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard. 

Zeldin was a surprise pick for the EPA administrator role because during his congressional tenure, he was more well known for working on international affairs. 

But he has been a major defender of Trump, including during the president’s first impeachment in 2019. 

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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