Senate confirms Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator

In the United States, on January 30, 2025, the Senate confirmed Lee Zeldin as the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a vote of 56-42. Zeldin received support from three Democratic Senators, John Fetterman, Mark Kelly, and Ruben Gallego, alongside all Republican Senators. Following his nomination by President Donald Trump after the latter's electoral victory in November, Zeldin emphasized his commitment to environmental conservation while promoting economic growth and American energy dominance during his confirmation hearings. This confirmation showcases Trump's administration's ongoing efforts to roll back previous climate policies and expand domestic energy production. Concurrently, the Senate also voted to confirm Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, as the head of the Interior Department, garnering bipartisan support with a 79-18 vote. Burgum's confirmation aligns with President Trump's broader agenda of increasing energy production and reverting environmental regulations. In a subsequent vote, the Senate set the stage for Chris Wright's nomination as energy secretary to move forward, with that vote passing 62-35. The administration's focus on an aggressive energy strategy aims to enhance U.S. energy independence and facilitate economic growth, which the nominated officials pledged to advance within their respective roles. Zeldin's and Burgum's confirmations are pivotal for executing Trump's energy policies, reflecting both a reinforcement of Republican priorities in energy and a collaborative effort across party lines on certain key appointments.