Lee Zeldin

Lee Zeldin, born on January 30, 1980, is a prominent American lawyer and politician. He has made significant contributions to public service, notably as a member of the Republican Party. Zeldin represented New York's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023, showcasing his commitment to his constituents and the values of his party.

Before his tenure in Congress, Zeldin served in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2014, representing the 3rd Senate district. His political career has been marked by his close alliance with former President Donald Trump, during which he notably defended Trump during the first impeachment hearings related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal.

In 2022, Zeldin was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York, successfully defeating three challengers in the Republican primary. Although he ultimately lost the election to incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul, he achieved the highest percentage of votes for a Republican gubernatorial nominee since two thousand two and the highest raw vote total for a Republican gubernatorial nominee since nineteen seventy.

In November 2024, Zeldin was nominated to serve as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump’s second administration. He was confirmed by the Senate and officially took office on January 29, 2025. As the EPA Administrator, Zeldin has advocated for significant environmental deregulation, targeting rules designed to reduce emissions from power plants and prevent waterway pollution, as well as challenging Biden-era restrictions on harmful chemicals.