Last weekend, multiple news outlets reported that President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Lee Zeldin, who served in the House of Representatives before unsuccessfully running for New York governor, to run the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zeldin, a Republican who served four terms from 2015 to 2023 representing a district that includes eastern Long Island, told Fox News this week that “we will restore American energy dominance” and “slash the red tape holding back American workers from upward economic mobility.”

While in office, Zeldin voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden’s signature climate law, along with most legislation meant to promote clean energy and protect the environment during his term. This includes voting against the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, which would block energy companies from charging excessive fuel prices during emergencies.  

Zeldin scored 14 percent in the League of Conservation Voters’ environmental scorecard, the lowest of New York’s congressional delegation.

Zeldin was part of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and the Conservative Climate Caucus, but according to E&E News, “put forth no policy that would have meaningfully cut carbon emissions.”