**President-Elect Trump Nominates Lee Zeldin as EPA Chief**

In a significant move, President-elect Donald Trump announced former Congressman Lee Zeldin from New York as his choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday. Zeldin, who has a limited background in environmental legislation, was a staunch supporter of Trump during his first term. After an unsuccessful bid for the New York governorship in 2022, Zeldin is now set to take on a pivotal role in environmental governance.

Zeldin’s nomination has received mixed reactions. Republican colleagues, particularly from New York, have welcomed the choice. Representative Mike Lawler expressed his confidence in Zeldin's capability, tweeting that he believes Zeldin will excel in the position by effectively balancing environmental protection with enhancing domestic energy production.

However, environmental groups remain cautious. There is significant concern regarding Trump’s past environmental policies, which included rolling back regulations and protections, though Zeldin himself has not been heavily criticized. The League of Conservation Voters gave Zeldin a low score of 14 percent based on his congressional voting record, signaling his lukewarm stance on environmental issues.

Zeldin's congressional history includes several notable actions. He was a vocal opponent of investigations into Trump's alleged ties to Russia and played a prominent role in defending Trump during both of his impeachment trials. Additionally, Zeldin was one of the 126 Republican House members to support the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit aimed at challenging the 2020 election results.

During his time in the House, Zeldin made headlines with his "no" vote against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017. He was one of the few Republicans to oppose the bill, arguing that it could result in higher taxes for New Yorkers due to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap. This position highlighted his readiness to prioritize his constituents' interests, occasionally diverging from party lines.

Zeldin also made news during his tight gubernatorial race in 2022, which he lost to Democrat Kathy Hochul by a narrower margin than expected. The campaign saw heightened attention when Zeldin was almost attacked on stage in July, an event he used to underline concerns about crime, a key issue for New York Republicans.

His stance on environmental issues aligns closely with Trump's previous policies. Zeldin supported the 2017 withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and criticized the agreement's re-entry under the Biden administration. He has also vocalized skepticism about New York's ambitious climate targets established under former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

While some environmentalist and conservation groups hesitated to directly criticize Zeldin’s nomination, they were vocal about their concerns regarding potential policy shifts. Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, warned that any move to repeal current automotive standards could have dire consequences for the industry, climate, and economy.

As Zeldin steps into this critical role, all eyes will be on how his leadership shapes the future of environmental policy in the United States.